Everything Sprouts Recalls Alfalfa Sprouts After 55 Illnesses in 15-State Outbreak

Everything Sprouts LLC voluntarily recalled alfalfa sprouts sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands on Friday, August 22, 2026, after federal investigators linked the products to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). At least 55 people across 15 states fell ill between May 31 and August 8, with four hospitalizations and no deaths reported as of August 21, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Minneapolis-based grower said it distributed the recalled sprouts from May 27 through August 21 to wholesale distributors and grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Epidemiologic evidence — including interviews with sick patients — points to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts as a likely source, though traceback work remains ongoing.

Editor’s note: This article draws on FDA recall notices, CDC outbreak data, Minnesota and Wisconsin health department statements, and reporting from CBS News and Newsweek, August 20–24, 2026. Illness counts and product details may be updated as the investigation continues.

What was recalled?

Everything Sprouts recalled specific lots of 5-ounce plastic containers of alfalfa sprouts and sprout-mix cups that may contain Salmonella or STEC bacteria.

Alfalfa sprout products

Field	Detail
Brands	Everything Sprouts, Calco
Package sizes	Individual 5 oz containers; case packs Alfalfa 6/5 oz and Alfalfa 12/6/5 oz
Barcodes	860014523113, 860014523120, 850079470149
Lot numbers	222, 223, 225, 226, 230

Sprout mix cups (alfalfa included)

The same alfalfa sprouts were used in:

Product	Lot numbers
Everything Sprouts Crunchy Protein Sprout Mix (5 oz cups)	222, 223, 226, 230
Everything Sprouts Zesty Garlic Mix (5 oz cups)	222, 223, 225, 226, 230

No other Everything Sprouts or Calco products are covered by this recall. The company posted sample product labels on the FDA notice to help consumers match barcodes and lot codes.

Outbreak scope: 15 states, 55 illnesses

Federal partners received 55 illness reports tied to alfalfa sprouts as of the August 22 announcement. Pathogen breakdown from the CDC:

Pathogen	Confirmed infections
STEC	46
Salmonella	7
Both	2

Illness onset dates ran from May 31 to August 8. Among 34 patients interviewed, 76% reported eating alfalfa sprouts in the weeks before symptoms began — a strong epidemiologic link in outbreak investigations.

States with reported cases

Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Minnesota and Wisconsin — where the sprouts were distributed — account for the largest clusters:

State	Cases (as reported)	Hospitalizations
Minnesota	At least 23 (July 8 – Aug. 8)	2
Wisconsin	18	1 (state report)

The Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture warned consumers on August 20 not to eat Calco or Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts even before the formal company recall posted. Officials noted illness totals would likely rise as more cases are confirmed and linked.

Why alfalfa sprouts carry outsized risk

Sprouts are a recurring source of foodborne outbreaks in the United States. Seeds can harbor bacteria that survive on the surface; warm, humid sprouting conditions then allow pathogens to multiply rapidly. Unlike many vegetables, sprouts are often eaten raw on sandwiches, salads, and wraps — so there is no cooking step to kill bacteria.

Both Salmonella and STEC can cause serious illness:

Pathogen	Typical symptoms	Severe outcomes
Salmonella	Diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps; onset 6 hours–6 days	Dehydration; bloodstream infection in vulnerable groups
STEC	Diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps, vomiting	Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) — kidney failure, especially in young children

The FDA warned that these bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults may experience only short-term symptoms, but anyone with severe or bloody diarrhea should seek medical care and mention possible food exposure.

What consumers should do

• Check your refrigerator for Everything Sprouts or Calco alfalfa sprouts and the two sprout-mix cups listed above.
• Do not eat any product matching the recalled lot numbers — even if it looks and smells normal.
• Discard the product; do not try to wash sprouts to remove bacteria.
• Clean and sanitize any surface, utensil, or container that touched the sprouts.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling recalled or suspect products.

Consumers with questions can contact Everything Sprouts through the contact information listed on the FDA recall posting. Retailers and distributors that received the lots should remove product from sale and follow FDA guidance.

Investigation status

The FDA, CDC, and state health departments are continuing traceback work to determine how contamination entered the supply chain and whether additional products or firms could be linked. Everything Sprouts said it is cooperating with investigators.

Because sprouts from a single Minnesota grower were sold to restaurants and grocery stores in two states but illnesses appeared nationwide, officials are examining distribution paths beyond direct retail sales — including whether wholesalers moved product into additional markets.

No deaths have been reported. The last known illness onset in the current dataset was August 8, but lag time between eating contaminated food, symptom onset, lab confirmation, and public reporting often stretches weeks.

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Discussion

1. Do you eat raw sprouts on sandwiches or salads — and did you know they are among the most outbreak-prone fresh foods?

Many people treat sprouts like lettuce. Would a recall like this change whether you order them at a deli or buy them at the store?

2. How do you check U.S. food recalls when you hear about an outbreak?

Lot-code lookups on FDA pages are precise but easy to skip. Is social media enough, or should grocers push alerts when a recalled brand was on local shelves?

Share whether you had Calco or Everything Sprouts products at home, and how you decide what stays in the fridge after a multistate alert.

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This article is news and general health information, not personal medical advice. If you have severe diarrhea, bloody stool, or symptoms after eating sprouts, seek professional care and mention possible food exposure.