October 9, 2009: Alfalfa Sprouts Sicken Residents of Michigan

Alfalfa sprouts may be responsible for an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium which has sickened 12 residents in Michigan.  The confirmed cases have come from residents in Bay, Genesee, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) acknowledged two known hospitalizations to date.  The illnesses were reported between August 17 and September 18, 2009.  As yet, no known source has been associated with the outbreak.

In general, the FDA recommends these guidelines for those who choose to continue to eat sprouts:

  •  Cook all sprouts thoroughly before eating to significantly reduce the risk of illness.
  • Sandwiches and salads purchased at restaurants and delicatessens often contain raw sprouts. Consumers who wish to reduce their risk of food borne illness should specifically request that raw sprouts not be added to their food.
  • Homegrown sprouts also present a health risk if eaten raw or lightly cooked. Many outbreaks have been attributed to contaminated seed. If pathogenic bacteria are present in or on seed, they can grow to high levels during sprouting even under clean conditions.

To become more informed about Salmonella, please see Salmonella Symptoms, or visit our additional website, Food Poisoning, which is dedicated to food safety and food litigation.  If you believe you may have been injured as a result of a Salmonella outbreak, please go to Salmonella Lawyers for more information.

For information concerning up-to-date information on food and drug recalls, please see E. coli Outbreaks, Listeria Outbreaks, Levaquin Injury Lawsuits, Hydroxycut Injury Lawsuits and Reglan Injury Lawsuits.

The above information has been posted as a courtesy by the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg.  If you have been diagnosed with Salmonella, are awaiting medical confirmation of infection, or have a question regarding your legal rights, please submit a Free Legal Case Evaluation, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.  Please read carefully, visit the referenced sites, and keep yourself and your loved ones safe!