Federal health officials and Wisconsin and Minnesota public health are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157).

Image of alfalfa sprouts/CDC
Image of alfalfa sprouts/CDC

To date, nine people infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coliO157 (STEC O157) have been reported from two states: Minnesota (7) and Wisconsin (2). Two people required hospitalization for their illness.

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory officials indicate that alfalfa sprouts produced by Jack & The Green Sprouts of River Falls, Wisconsin are a likely source of this outbreak. These sprouts may be contaminated with STEC O157 and are not safe to eat.

State and local health and regulatory officials performed traceback investigations from seven different locations where ill people ate or bought alfalfa sprouts. These investigations indicated that Jack & The Green Sprouts supplied alfalfa sprouts to all seven locations.

This outbreak does not appear to be related to the ongoing multistate outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen infections linked to alfalfa sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms of Inman, Kansas.

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