3 days ago
Supermarket vegetable linked to terrifying outbreak as FDA warns of hospitalizations
A popular sprouting vegetable has been recalled nationwide after it hospitalized four people and sickened 11.
The FDA issued the alert for Deep brand frozen sprouts, which routine tests showed were contaminated with Salmonella.
The recall affects Deep Sprouted Mat and Deep Sprouted Moong 16-oz packets, made by Chetak LLC, sold in stores and by mail order.
The products have been removed from shelves, but officials remain concerned that some may still be in customers' refrigerators.
Salmonella poses a serious risk to pregnant women and the elderly, who are more likely to suffer serious infections and have the bacteria enter their bloodstreams.
In most cases, Salmonella causes fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain with symptoms resolving in a few days.
People have been advised to throw out the frozen peas immediately or return them to the sellers for a full refund.
Illnesses have been reported across ten states, mostly in the Northeast, within the last year, prompting a major investigation from health authorities.
The CDC, which is investigating the outbreak, has warned that the true number of sicknesses is likely much higher, as many people have recovered without being tested.
The agency said in the alert: 'The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.
'This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.'
The FDA said that production of the beans had now been halted while investigators determined the source of the contamination.
Customers can check whether their sprouted beans are part of the recall by checking the lot code printed on the back of the packaging.
The FDA has provided a list of codes for products in the recall on its website.
It is unclear how the products were contaminated, but in previous cases this has been linked to some seeds being exposed to water that has been mixed with animal feces, which could contain the bacteria.
Sprouting seeds companies do disinfect their seeds, but this process is not always effective.
Two of the patients sickened in the outbreak were based in Massachusetts.
There has also been one case each reported in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
About half of the patients are female and have an average age of 43 years. All are of Asian backgrounds.
It comes amid an FDA warning over two foodborne outbreaks including one linked to salmonella that has sickened 18 people and another linked to a microscopic parasite that has sickened 24 people to date.
In both cases, the agency is interviewing patients in order to establish the source of the illnesses and warn other customers of the danger.
