WASHINGTON, DC — Federal health officials have closed their investigation into a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella infections tied to recalled alfalfa seed lot SAL2-24JB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the outbreak over, and the Food and Drug Administration says its investigation is complete.
In total, 77 people in 16 states were reported sick, including 64 with E. coli, 10 with Salmonella and three with both infections. Six people were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Illnesses began between May 31 and Oct. 19, 2026, according to the CDC and state partners.
How investigators linked illnesses to alfalfa sprouts
The outbreak involved multiple strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8, along with Salmonella Agona. CDC and FDA worked with state and local public health officials to review interviews, lab findings and traceback information from restaurants and grocery stores.
Among the 52 people interviewed, 41 said they had eaten sprouts in the week before getting sick, and 36 specifically named alfalfa sprouts. That pattern helped health officials connect the illnesses to the recalled seed lot and the sprouts grown from it.
FDA said traceback evidence identified alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts, LLC of Minneapolis as a source of illness earlier in the investigation, and later work identified the recalled seed lot as part of the broader problem.
What happened to the recalled seed lot SAL2-24JB
The recalled alfalfa seed lot has an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2029, which means some seed may still remain in storage even though the outbreak has ended. FDA says sprout growers should check their inventory, stop using the lot and discard any remaining seed.
Consumers are also being told to look in refrigerators and freezers for recalled seeds or sprouts and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. If a product was frozen without its original packaging and cannot be identified, it should be discarded.
Recalled sprouts grown from the seed lot are already past their best-by dates and should not be available for sale, FDA said.
Where the products were sold and shipped
Berlin Seeds-branded Alfalfa Sprouting Seed was sold at the company’s retail store in Millersburg, Ohio, and through its website from Feb. 13, 2026, through Aug. 23, 2026. Customers were located across much of the U.S., including Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Texas and Wyoming, among many other states.
The recalled lot was also shipped to sprout growers and wholesale distributors in California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, as well as Puerto Rico. FDA also said the seed lot went abroad to Canada, Mexico, Tahiti and Venezuela.
Although confirmed distribution has been mapped to those places, the agency warned the product could have reached additional states as well.
What symptoms health officials say to watch for
FDA says STEC infections can start a few days after exposure and as late as nine days later. Symptoms may include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting. Some infections can lead to bloody diarrhea and serious complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.
Salmonella symptoms usually appear 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and often last four to seven days. Common signs include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness.
Anyone who ate recalled sprouts and has symptoms similar to either infection should contact a health care provider right away, the FDA said.
Advice for consumers, retailers and sprout growers
The agency’s guidance is aimed at consumers, restaurants, retailers, sprout growers and foodservice buyers who may still have recalled seeds or sprouts. They are told not to use, sell or distribute the product and to clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that came in contact with it.
Retailers that repackaged recalled seeds or sprouts for individual sale should remove them from the market immediately. Food safety guidance from FDA also advises careful cleaning to reduce the risk of cross-contamination after handling the affected products.
Even though the outbreak has ended, the agency said the recalled seed should be thrown away if it is still in any home, warehouse or grower inventory. If a seed lot cannot be confirmed, FDA says to contact the seed supplier for guidance.
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