Outbreak Investigation of Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli & Salmonella: Sprouts (August 2026)
Do not eat, sell, or serve Calco and Everything Sprouts-brand alfalfa sprouts. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Product
Alfalfa Sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands at retailers and grocery stores.
Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection
Symptoms begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.
The severity or presence of certain symptoms may depend on the type of pathogenic E. coli causing the infection. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection
Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
Stores affected
Alfalfa Sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts, LLC and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands to retailers and foodservice customers. FDA is working to determine additional distribution information. This advisory will be updated as more information becomes available.
Status
Ongoing
Recommendations
- Do not eat, sell, or serve alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
- Check your refrigerators and freezers for Calco and Everything Sprouts-brand alfalfa sprouts and throw them away or return the product to the place of purchase. If you froze a product without the original packaging and can’t tell if it’s part of the affected sprouts, throw it away.
- Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and foodservice customers who purchased or received Calco and Everything Sprouts-brand alfalfa sprouts, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- Retailers that received Calco and Everything Sprouts-brand alfalfa sprouts and repackaged them for individual sale should not sell them and should remove the products from the market.
- Consult your health care provider immediately if you ate Calco and/or Everything Sprouts-brands alfalfa sprouts and have any symptoms that resemble an STEC or Salmonella infection.
Current Update
August 21, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (multiple serotypes include: O26:H11, O103:H25, O168:H8) and Salmonella Agona infections. Epidemiologic and traceback data show that alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts, LLC of Minneapolis, MN may be contaminated with multiple pathogens and have been identified as a source of illnesses in this outbreak.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC and state partners, a total of 55 people infected with multiple strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and one strain of Salmonella have been reported from 15 states. Some people were infected with more than one outbreak strain. Forty-six people were infected with E. coli , 7 people were infected with Salmonella, and 2 people were infected with both Salmonella and E. coli.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 31, 2026, to August 8, 2026. State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 34 people interviewed, 26 (76%) reported eating alfalfa sprouts. There have been 4 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported.
Traceback evidence collected from the restaurants and grocery stores identified alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts, LLC as a source of illness in this outbreak.
On August 19, 2026, FDA initiated an inspection and sample collection at Everything Sprouts, LLC. This investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products or firms are linked to illnesses.
FDA is working with Everything Sprouts and has recommended they conduct a recall. Consumers and retailers should not eat, serve, or sell alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory with new information as it becomes available.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 55
Hospitalizations: 4
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: August 8, 2026
States with Cases: FL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, NH, NY, NC, ND, PA, SC, SD, WA, and WI
Who to Contact?
Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction),
visit Industry and Consumer Assistance.
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