The sprout industry has been working in cooperation with government, academia, and other industry segments to enhance the safety of its product. These efforts have focused primarily on seed treatment strategies, good manufacturing practices, and sanitation. Despite all these efforts to make raw sprouts safer, we continue to receive reports of illnesses associated with raw sprouts. Although infections with Salmonella and E. coli O157 can cause serious illness, the illness is generally self-limiting in most healthy adults. However, an E.coli O157 infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome with resultant kidney failure or death in children, and equally serious complications in the elderly.
Salmonella infections can cause serious illness in children, the elderly and the immune compromised.
Healthy persons infected with these bacteria experience diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping and fever for several days. This significantly reduces the risk of illness. Check sandwiches and salads purchased at restaurants and delicatessens. Consumers who wish to reduce their risk of foodborne illness should specifically request that raw sprouts not be added to their food. Sprouts grown in the home also present a risk if eaten raw.