Second broccoli seed recall tied to Salmonella sprout outbreak
Eden Brothers has recalled Calabrese broccoli seeds sold online and on Amazon because they may carry Salmonella. The seeds came from the same lot linked to an outbreak that has sickened 32 people in six states. People should not plant, sprout or eat them.
A second seed company has recalled broccoli seeds linked to a Salmonella outbreak tied to sprouts.
Eden Brothers of Arden, North Carolina, recalled its Calabrese broccoli seeds on Oct. 7, Food Safety News reported. Its supplier warned that seed lot W4105 may be contaminated.
The recall covers packets, 1-ounce bags and 1-pound bags with Eden Brothers lot numbers 1022067 and 1022068. The seeds were sold on the company's website and on Amazon from July 8 through Sept. 28 and shipped nationwide, Food Poisoning Bulletin reported. The company said no illnesses had been reported to it.
The same seed lot is tied to an outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans. As of Oct. 7, 32 people were sick in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Three were hospitalized, and no one has died. Illnesses began between July 7 and Sept. 3.
Most sick people said they ate sprouts or microgreens. Of 27 people interviewed, 22 said they ate broccoli sprouts. Washington officials found the outbreak strain in Evergreen Fresh Sprouts-brand broccoli sprouts.
The FDA tested seeds from the supplier and found the same strain, Food Safety News reported. The agency has not named the supplier. On Oct. 2, EAK Distribution of Casper, Wyoming, recalled its HOME GROWN broccoli sprouting seeds sold on Amazon from the same lot.
What to do: If you have these seeds, do not plant, sprout or eat them. Do not use them for microgreens. Seal them in a bag and throw them in the trash, not the compost. Then wash your hands with soap and water. Eden Brothers offers a refund through a recall form.
If you ate sprouts grown from these seeds, watch for Salmonella symptoms for the next week and call a doctor if you get sick.
The real number of sick people is likely higher. Many people do not see a doctor or get tested. The CDC estimates that for every Salmonella case found, 29 go undetected.
This outbreak is separate from another E. coli and Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, Food Safety News noted.
What we know: Two companies have recalled seeds from the same lot.
What we don't: Which supplier grew the seeds and where else they went.
Where outlets agree Food Safety News and Food Poisoning Bulletin both report the recalled seeds carry lot numbers 1022067 and 1022068.
Where they differ The FDA has tied the outbreak to one seed lot but has not named the supplier, so it is unclear what other companies received the seeds.