Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is recalling 1953 pounds of alfalfa, clover, brocco sandwich sprouts, and spicy sprouts due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Products were distributed from 1/10/13 to 1/18/13 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chain.
The affected products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest brand and are packaged in plastic clamshell containers and plastic 1 lb bags.
The affected products are:
Clover Sprouts 5oz container 1/26/2013 0 33383 70235 3
Clover Sprouts 1 lb bag 1/26/2013 0 79566 12351 5
Clover Sprouts 2lb tray 1/26/2013 0 79566 12351 5
Clover Sprouts 4oz container 1/26/2013 8 15098 00201 6
Brocco Sandwich Sprouts 4oz container 1/26/2013 8 15098 00028 9
Spicy sprouts 4oz container 1/26/2013 8 15098 00202 3
Alfalfa sprouts 4oz container 1/31/2013 8 15098 00108 8
Alfalfa sprouts 3oz container 1/31/2013 8 51042 00402 6
The problem was identified through a surveillance sampling and two samples collected at retail locations were tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
The firm is working with WSDA and the Food & Drug Administration on this recall.