Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Broccoli Sprouts Grows to 32 Cases in 6 States
The CDC and FDA are warning consumers not to eat, sell or serve broccoli sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC after a multistate Salmonella outbreak grew to 32 confirmed cases across six states as of the agency’s September 24 update. Federal officials said ten of those cases were added in the latest round and two new states entered the tally, a sign that exposure is still being identified weeks after the initial recall.
No deaths have been reported. The recall itself covers 215 cases of broccoli sprouts that the company pulled on September 10, and both agencies say the products should be considered unsafe regardless of sell-by dates. Sprouts have long been a recurring vehicle for foodborne illness because the warm, humid conditions required to sprout seeds are exactly the conditions bacteria love, and with the CDC currently tracking four active foodborne outbreaks, this is a moment to check the fridge and know the symptoms.
What the CDC and FDA Are Warning About
The outbreak notice names broccoli sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC as the vehicle. The September 10 recall removed 215 cases from commerce, but sprouts have short shelf lives and wide distribution into restaurants and grocery cases, which is why officials continue to emphasize that anyone who purchased the product should throw it away or return it rather than wash it and hope for the best.
Washing does not reliably remove Salmonella embedded in sprouted seed tissue, and cooking would kill the bacteria but sprouts are routinely eaten raw. The joint CDC and FDA investigation page lists the product, the producer and the lot information consumers should look for, and state health departments, led by Washington’s, are matching patients to purchase histories to confirm links. Investigators have not announced additional recalled brands, but the notice warns the list can grow.
Where People Got Sick
The case count moved fast in September. By the tenth, 22 people across four states had been identified with two hospitalizations. The September 24 update pushed the total to 32 cases across six states, with ten new patients and two new states added. Washington state reported the largest share, with 24 of the 32 confirmed cases, while Idaho and Montana are among the other states named in the investigation.
Illness onset dates cluster in the weeks before each report, which is typical because Salmonella incubation runs from roughly 12 to 72 hours after exposure and reporting lags behind testing. Confirmed cases represent only people who sought care and had stool samples cultured or sequenced, so the true count is almost certainly higher. Public health officials use the genetic fingerprint of each isolate to connect patients who would otherwise look like unrelated stomach bugs.
Why Sprouts Keep Causing Salmonella Outbreaks
Sprouts sit near the top of the food safety risk list for a structural reason. Seeds are soaked and warmed to trigger germination, and those same conditions let Salmonella and E. coli multiply rapidly throughout the sprouting mass. The bacteria are not just on the surface; they can be inside the sprout, so antimicrobial washes that would work on a whole vegetable underperform here.
The FDA has repeatedly warned that sprouts are risky for children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, and the agency has brought enforcement pressure on producers in past outbreaks. Raw sprouts remain popular in sandwiches and salads, which creates regular exposure. Previous multistate outbreaks linked to alfalfa and clover sprouts followed the same pattern: recall, growing case count, states added late, and a producer scrambling to trace distribution.
Symptoms and When to See a Doctor
Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps starting 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Most healthy adults recover without treatment, but dehydration is the immediate danger, especially for young children and older patients. The CDC advises seeking medical care if diarrhea persists beyond three days, if fever climbs high, if there is blood in the stool, or if vomiting prevents keeping liquids down.
Doctors diagnose the infection through stool cultures, and public health laboratories then perform whole genome sequencing to match the patient’s strain against the outbreak cluster. That step is what confirmed the sprouts link in this investigation. People who ate recalled sprouts and feel well should still watch for symptoms for several days and mention the exposure to their clinician if they later seek care, because the exposure history changes what gets tested.
What to Do If You Have Recalled Sprouts
Check the refrigerator for Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts and compare the package against the lot codes in the recall notice. Do not eat the product even if it looks and smells fine. Throw it away in a sealed bag, or return it to the store for a refund. Wash any surfaces, containers and utensils that contacted the sprouts with hot soapy water, and wash hands thoroughly afterward.
If you already ate the product, watch for symptoms and stay hydrated. Because the outbreak spans six states, anyone who becomes ill should tell their doctor about possible sprout exposure so testing can be directed. Stores and restaurants that received the recalled lots should already have pulled them, but consumers remain the last line of defense after a recall, which is exactly why the CDC repeats the warning across every update.
The Wider Outbreak Picture
This recall does not exist in isolation. The CDC currently lists four active foodborne outbreaks, including a separate E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheese that has already produced its own recall. Salmonella remains one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States, and 2026 has been an active year for produce-linked clusters.
The pattern underscores a broader truth about modern food safety: distribution is national and fast, so a single facility can put product in dozens of states within days. Investigators will keep adding cases as lab results catch up, and the outbreak will only be declared over after two incubation periods pass with no new patients. Until then, the message from federal and state officials is unchanged: do not eat the recalled sprouts, and if you feel sick after eating them, get medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sprouts are being recalled?
Broccoli sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC, covering 215 cases pulled from commerce on September 10 as part of the CDC and FDA investigation.
How many people have gotten sick?
As of September 24, 32 people across six states were confirmed ill, with ten new cases and two new states in the latest update and no deaths reported.
What are Salmonella symptoms?
Diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps usually beginning 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, with dehydration as the main complication for vulnerable groups.
Can washing sprouts make them safe?
No. Salmonella can be inside the sprout itself, so washing does not remove it, and the CDC advises not eating recalled sprouts at all.
