A nationwide food-safety investigation is putting alfalfa sprouts under renewed scrutiny after federal officials linked 55 reported illnesses to recalled products sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a multistate outbreak involving Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella. The illnesses have been reported in 15 states, with four people hospitalized and no deaths reported so far.
The recall has raised concerns for consumers, restaurants and retailers because sprouts can be eaten raw and may become contaminated during production.
Federal Investigation Remains Active
The FDA says the outbreak investigation is ongoing.
According to the agency’s latest update, 46 people have been infected with E. coli, seven with Salmonella and two with both pathogens. Illnesses began between May 31 and August 8, 2026.
Health officials interviewed people who became sick to determine what foods they had consumed before developing symptoms.
Of 34 people interviewed, 26 reported eating alfalfa sprouts—a connection that helped investigators trace the illnesses to sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts LLC, based in Minneapolis.
Recall Covers Specific Lots
Everything Sprouts initiated the recall on August 22 after federal officials identified its alfalfa sprouts as a source associated with the outbreak.
The recalled products were sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands and include 5-ounce containers of alfalfa sprouts.
The affected lot numbers are 222, 223, 225, 226 and 230. The same alfalfa sprouts were also used in certain Everything Sprouts Crunchy Protein Sprout Mix and Zesty Garlic Mix products.
Consumers are being urged not to eat the recalled products.
Where Were the Products Distributed?
The FDA says Everything Sprouts distributed the affected sprouts from May 27 through August 21 to wholesale distributors and grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The products were also distributed to restaurants in those states.
However, federal officials are continuing to investigate whether recalled products reached additional states.
That possibility is one reason health officials are urging consumers and businesses to check product labels carefully.
Why Sprouts Require Special Attention
Raw sprouts can create particular food-safety challenges.
The warm, moist conditions needed for seeds to germinate can also allow certain bacteria to multiply if contamination occurs.
Because sprouts are frequently consumed raw, there may be no cooking step to eliminate harmful bacteria before consumption.
That makes contamination prevention during production especially important.
Symptoms Can Be Serious
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting.
Some infections can lead to bloody diarrhea and potentially serious complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.
Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. More serious illness is possible, particularly among young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Consumers who develop symptoms after eating recalled sprouts should contact a healthcare provider.
What Consumers Should Do
The FDA is advising consumers to check refrigerators and freezers for recalled Calco and Everything Sprouts products.
Anyone who has an affected product should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
Consumers should not taste the product to determine whether it is safe.
The agency also recommends carefully cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with recalled sprouts because bacteria can spread through cross-contamination.
Restaurants and Retailers Face Additional Responsibilities
Restaurants, grocery stores and food-service businesses that received the recalled products are also being told not to sell or serve them.
Retailers that repackaged affected sprouts for individual sale should remove those products from the market.
The FDA says businesses should also clean and sanitize surfaces and containers that touched the recalled products.
FDA Inspectors Are Investigating the Facility
The FDA initiated an inspection and sample collection at Everything Sprouts on August 19.
Investigators are examining the company’s production operation and collecting evidence to determine how contamination may have occurred.
The agency is also investigating whether additional companies or products could be connected to the illnesses.
That means the current recall may not necessarily represent the final scope of the investigation.
A Broader Food-Safety Challenge
The outbreak is part of a larger pattern of active foodborne-illness investigations being monitored by federal authorities.
The FDA’s current list includes investigations involving E. coli, Salmonella and Cyclospora, among other pathogens.
Food-safety officials rely heavily on consumer interviews, laboratory testing and traceback investigations to identify common sources.
Why Traceback Matters
Foodborne outbreaks can be difficult to investigate because consumers may not remember everything they ate days or weeks earlier.
Once investigators identify a common food exposure, they can trace the product through restaurants, retailers, distributors and manufacturers.
In the current sprout investigation, that process helped connect illnesses to Everything Sprouts.
What Happens Next
Federal and state health officials will continue monitoring new illness reports.
Investigators will also analyze samples, production records and distribution information.
If additional evidence identifies more products or businesses, the FDA could issue further warnings or expand the recall.
Consumers should therefore rely on updated FDA and CDC information rather than assuming the current recall list is final.
The Bottom Line
The alfalfa sprout recall has become a major U.S. food-safety investigation after 55 illnesses were reported across 15 states in connection with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella.
Four people have been hospitalized, while no deaths have been reported. Federal officials continue to investigate how contamination occurred and whether affected products were distributed beyond Minnesota and Wisconsin.
For consumers, the immediate priority is to check refrigerators and freezers for recalled Everything Sprouts and Calco products, avoid eating them and properly sanitize surfaces that may have contacted the sprouts.
As investigators work to determine the full scope of the outbreak, the recall serves as another reminder that food-safety risks can move quickly through modern distribution networks—and that timely consumer action can help prevent additional illnesses.
Source angle: FDA and CDC investigation into the 2026 multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak associated with recalled Everything Sprouts and Calco alfalfa sprouts.
