Sprouts are the germinating form of seeds and beans.
They have become regular food items in salad bars and produce departments across Canada. As much as 10 percent of the population eats sprouts regularly. They are very nutritious and offer a number of health benefits. However, as their popularity increases, so does the frequency of sprout-related illness. Reported outbreaks of the same bacteria in Michigan and Virginia in 1997 were traced back to bean sprout seeds.