Multistate E. coli, salmonella outbreak linked to Minnesota alfalfa sprout grower, MDH says

Dozens of cases of E. coli and salmonella in multiple states are linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, health officials say.

The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are warning residents not to eat alfalfa sprouts made under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brand. (The sprouts are produced by Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota grower, and sold to restaurants and grocery stores, officials say.)

There have been 23 cases of salmonella or E. coli reported in Minnesota between July 8 and Aug. 8, the departments say. Two of those cases resulted in hospitalization. Officials in Wisconsin are also investigating 18 cases.

Symptoms of E. coli include stomach cramps and diarrhea and a low-grade or no fever. People typically become ill two to five days after exposure, and usually people recover within five to seven days. Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms typically begin within 12 to 96 hours after exposure, health officials say.

State health officials are working with experts from Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to identify the scope of the contamination.

Additional details from Minnesota officials show the illnesses involve an unusual mix of bacterial strains: three people had salmonella, one of whom also had a strain of E. coli called STEC O168:H8; seven others were sickened with a different E. coli strain, STEC O103:H25; and thirteen more had a third strain, STEC O26:H11. Food safety lawyer Bill Marler noted that it's "very unusual to have two bugs" in one outbreak, but said alfalfa sprouts are a plausible culprit since contaminated seeds are hard to clean and can spread germs easily when grown in warm water.