TOPEKA, Kan.—The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella linked to sprouts.
Five people in Kansas have become ill as part of this outbreak after consuming sprouts from Sweetwater Farms, of Inman. The last date of illness was January 21 in a Kansas resident. In addition, three residents from Oklahoma also have Salmonella infections that match the outbreak strain. Sweetwater Farms was inspected and samples collected of irrigation water and product have tested positive for Salmonella bacteria although the strain has not yet been identified. Sweetwater Farms has decided to voluntarily recall sprouts in lot 042016. Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends that people not consume any sprout product from Sweetwater Farms at this time.
Anyone who believes they may have become ill with Salmonella should contact their health care provider.
KDHE recommends that children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind due to their potential to harbor harmful bacteria. Cooking sprouts kills any such bacteria.