Sprouts tied to Salmonella should be discarded, FDA says

(CBS) Don't eat the sprouts! The FDA is urging consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." after reports suggesting they are linked to 20 cases of Salmonella poisoning.

The cases - believed to be caused by a germ different from the one that caused the deadly outbreak of food-borne illness that swept Europe recently - have been reported in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Washington, according to the FDA website.

One case required hospitalization.

The agency is urging consumers who have the sprouts to seal them in a container and discard them - in such a way that no wild or domestic animals can get at them.

People infected with salmonella typically develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. Most recover in a few days without treatment, though infants, elderly people, and those with a compromised immune system can develop severe cases that require hospitalization and treatment with antibiotics.

The CDC has more on Salmonella.