The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is launching an investigation over a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella suspected to be linked to alfalfa sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms in Inman, Kansas.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevnetion, 13 cases of Salmonella were confirmed between December 1, 2015 and January 21, 2016. The cases were confirmed in four states: Kansas (5), Missouri (3), Oklahoma (3), and Pennsylvania (2). Of the 13 cases, five resulted in hospitalization.
According to the FDA, irrigation water and alfalfa sprout samples collected by the officials from Sweetwater Farms tested positive for Salmonella. Sweetwater Farms told the FDA last week that it is recalling alfalfa sprouts from lot 042016.
The FDA says that Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and typically those who are infected usually do not require any treatment.
Children, the elderly and pregnant women are most at risk. Those groups should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind.
Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk.Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs or on Facebook.
