Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts from Sprouts Extraordinaire, Denver, have been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 30 people, including five who were hospitalized.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating the outbreak, which currently spans nine states - Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, Missouri and New York, according to the CDC website.

Ill people reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts on sandwiches at several different restaurants, according to the CDC. Regulatory officials traced the product back from five restaurants where people reported eating sprouts and discovered Sprouts Extraordinaire had supplied all five.

Thirteen cases were reported in Colorado, eight were reported in Kansas, two were reported in both Nebraska and Wyoming, and single cases were reported in Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Texas.

The CDC advised, via its website, that people considering ordering a restaurant item with sprouts should ask about the origin of the product and not to eat it if the restaurant can't confirm the origin of the sprouts.

Twenty-four of the 30 ill people were infected with Salmonella Reading, one was infected with Salmonella Abony, and five were infected with both.

Sprouts Extraordinaire recalled its alfalfa sprouts products Aug. 5 due to possible salmonella contamination. The products were in 5-pound boxes labeled "Living Alfalfa Sprouts."