Developing Story Note: This report covers the recall of alfalfa sprouting seed from a lot linked to a multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak. Details may change as federal and state health agencies release new findings. The latest update reflected here is the FDA outbreak advisory dated September 24, 2026. Illness counts come from the CDC and FDA and include people who got sick from May 31 to August 8, 2026.
The alfalfa seed lot at the center of a multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak has now been traced to seed sold directly to consumers. Berlin Seeds of Millersburg, Ohio, is recalling 950 pounds of Alfalfa Sprouting Seed sold to customers in 44 states after its supplier said the seed was traced to a sprout grower whose finished sprouts were part of an FDA outbreak investigation. The Berlin Seeds recall notice, posted by the FDA on September 23, says one illness has been reported directly to the company.
The recall extends the outbreak response to people who grow sprouts at home. Berlin Seeds sold the seed at its Millersburg store and on its website from February 13 to August 23, 2026, in bags as small as a quarter pound. The quarter-pound, half-pound, and 1-pound bags carry no lot code, so buyers of those sizes cannot use the label to tell whether their seed came from the recalled lot.
Sprouts are grown in warm, humid conditions that allow bacteria on seeds to multiply, and they are often eaten raw. A bag bought months ago may still be in a pantry and could be used to grow a new batch.
A Seed Lot That Traveled Farther Than First Known
The outbreak was first linked to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts, a Minneapolis grower that recalled sprouts sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands. The FDA later said its traceback had identified at least one additional sprout grower that used the same seed lot, but it has not named that grower.
The FDA outbreak advisory, current as of September 24, now identifies the recalled seed lot as SAL2-24JB. The agency said the seed "was sold directly to sprout growers and wholesale distributors and may have been sold at the retail level." Its distribution list now covers Berlin's 44 retail states, plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico, which received bulk shipments. In August, the only known distribution was of recalled sprouts sold in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
According to the FDA, the bulk seed lot was shipped to sprout growers and wholesale distributors in 16 states, including California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas, as well as Puerto Rico. It was also distributed to Canada, Mexico, Tahiti, and Venezuela.
The FDA advisory does not name the seed supplier. However, an FDA Enforcement Report entry, reported by the food safety site eFoodAlert, lists International Sprout Holdings of Cookeville, Tennessee, as recalling 43,799 pounds of alfalfa seed under the same lot code. Berlin's 5-pound and 50-pound bags carry that code on the bottom right corner of the label.
Berlin Seeds also said its supplier reported that a spent irrigation water sample from one of its alfalfa seed lots tested positive for E. coli. The notice does not say which lot that sample came from, and no test results showing outbreak bacteria in Berlin's own seed have been made public. The recall is based on the seed's traceback to the outbreak.
The Illness Count Has Held Steady as Distribution Widened
MedicalDaily previously reported that the seed supplier had not answered the FDA's recall request, leaving shoppers outside Minnesota and Wisconsin with no brand or label to check. The FDA later said that on September 15, the supplier agreed to start a recall of the seed lot. Berlin's recall now covers seed sold to consumers for home sprouting.
The illness count has not changed. The CDC investigation notice lists 55 sick people in 15 states, with four hospitalizations and no deaths. Forty-six were infected with E. coli, seven with Salmonella, and two with both. The FDA reported the same totals as of September 24.
The CDC says the true number of sick people is likely much higher, because many people recover without being tested, and it usually takes three to four weeks to determine whether a new illness is part of an outbreak. The recall notice does not say whether the illness reported to Berlin Seeds is included in the federal count.
What Home Sprouters Should Do Now
The households most directly affected are those that bought Berlin Seeds alfalfa sprouting seed during the sales period and sprouted it at home. The recall covers quarter-pound, half-pound, 1-pound, 5-pound, and 50-pound packages. Other Berlin Seeds sprouting seeds are not affected.
Children under 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. The FDA also advises pregnant people to avoid raw sprouts of any kind. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and is most common in young children. According to the FDA, E. coli symptoms can start a few days to nine days after eating contaminated food, while Salmonella illness usually begins within 12 to 72 hours.
Berlin Seeds says customers should stop using the seed and should not sprout it, plant it, or give it away. Any sprouts grown from it should be thrown away, and the seed should be placed in a sealed bag and thrown in the trash. Jars, trays, sprouters, and surfaces that touched the seed or sprouts should be carefully cleaned and sanitized. Customers can request a replacement by calling Berlin Seeds at 877-464-0892, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, or by emailing [email protected].
The CDC advises calling a health care provider for bloody diarrhea, diarrhea with a fever higher than 102°F, vomiting so severe that you cannot keep liquids down, or signs of dehydration, such as peeing very little. Patients should tell their provider that they ate sprouts. The CDC says antibiotics should not be used for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections because they can raise the risk of HUS.
The FDA says it is still working to determine whether the recalled seed reached additional states. For now, anyone who bought Berlin Seeds alfalfa sprouting seed should check their pantry and discard it. People in higher-risk groups can lower their risk by cooking sprouts thoroughly or avoiding raw sprouts.
Developing Story Timeline
September 24, 2026: The FDA updated its outbreak advisory to include the Berlin Seeds recall and the distribution of seed lot SAL2-24JB.
September 23, 2026: Berlin Seeds recalled 950 pounds of Alfalfa Sprouting Seed tied to lot SAL2-24JB.
September 15, 2026: The FDA said the common seed supplier agreed to start a recall of the implicated seed lot.
August 31, 2026: The FDA said the seed supplier had not responded to its recall recommendation.
August 21, 2026: The CDC and FDA announced an investigation into E. coli and Salmonella illnesses linked to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts.
Key Questions Answered
What was recalled? Berlin Seeds Alfalfa Sprouting Seed in quarter-pound, half-pound, 1-pound, 5-pound, and 50-pound packages. The 5-pound and 50-pound bags carry lot code SAL2-24JB, while the smaller bags have no lot code.
Where and when was it sold? At the company's store in Millersburg, Ohio, and on its website from February 13 to August 23, 2026, to customers in 44 states.
Is this connected to the Everything Sprouts outbreak? Yes. The FDA lists the Berlin Seeds recall in the same outbreak investigation as the recalled Everything Sprouts products. Berlin's supplier said the seed was traced to a grower whose sprouts were part of that investigation.
How many people are sick? Federal officials count 55 illnesses in 15 states, with four hospitalizations and no deaths. Berlin Seeds says one illness was reported to it directly.
Who faces the greatest risk? Children under 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA advises pregnant people to avoid raw sprouts.
What should I do with the seed? Stop using it, seal it in a bag, throw it away, and clean and sanitize any jars, trays, or surfaces it touched. Contact Berlin Seeds for a replacement.
When should someone see a doctor? For bloody diarrhea, diarrhea with a fever higher than 102°F, vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, or signs of dehydration, such as peeing very little.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
