An outbreak of Salmonella illnesses in the northeastern United States, including three cases in Vermont, has been associated with bean sprouts. This is the finding from an investigation by the Vermont Department of Health along with other state health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CDC reported today that 68 people in 10 states have become ill as part of the outbreak. Eleven were hospitalized and no one has died. None of the Vermont residents were hospitalized, and all three have recovered from their illness.

A review of records and invoices at restaurants in the northeast where people became ill shows they ate bean sprouts from Wonton Food, Inc. of Brooklyn, New York, according to the CDC.

The investigation by state and federal partners is still underway, but consumers should avoid eating bean sprouts grown and sold by Wonton Food, Inc. Restaurants and grocery stores have been advised not to serve or sell bean sprouts from this firm.

Infection with Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. Illness can be severe and require hospitalization. Young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe illness. Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other parts of the body, and can be fatal without prompt treatment.

My friends at Barf Blog document at least 55 sprout-associated outbreaks occurring worldwide affecting a total of 15,233 people since 1988. A comprehensive table of sprout-related outbreaks can be found at http://barfblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sprout-associated-outbreaks-8-1-14.xlsx.

Salmonella:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $600 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants.  The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart.