Alfalfa sprouts are linked to E. coli and Salmonella. Here's the fridge check. (2026)

Federal health officials are tracking a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts. As of the August 24, 2026 update, 55 people across 15 states have been reported sick, 4 have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. 1 2

The useful move is small and specific: check whether you bought the recalled cups, throw them out if you did, clean what they touched, and know which diarrhea symptoms need a real call instead of a wait-it-out plan.

What the numbers actually cover

Illnesses in this outbreak started between May 31 and August 8, 2026. Of the people interviewed so far, 76% said they ate alfalfa sprouts in the week before they got sick. 3

This is a dual-pathogen outbreak. Forty-six people were infected with E. coli, seven with Salmonella, and two with both. Ages range from 12 to 94, with a median age of 34. Minnesota and Wisconsin account for most of the known cases so far (21 and 17), with smaller counts reported from Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington. 3 4

CDC notes that the true number of sick people is likely higher than 55. Many people never get tested, and it often takes a few weeks to confirm that a new illness belongs to an outbreak. Confirmed product distribution for the recall is Minnesota and Wisconsin grocery and restaurant channels, but FDA says product could have moved farther. 2 3

Fridge check: brands, lots, mixes

On August 22, 2026, Everything Sprouts, LLC of Minneapolis recalled certain alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. 1 5

Look for:

Alfalfa sprouts in 5-oz plastic containers under Calco or Everything Sprouts
Lot numbers 222, 223, 225, 226, or 230
The same lots in Everything Sprouts Crunchy Protein Sprout Mix 5-oz cups (lots 222, 223, 226, 230)
The same lots in Everything Sprouts Zesty Garlic Mix cups (lots 222, 223, 225, 226, 230)
Bar codes listed in the recall: 860014523113, 860014523120, and 850079470149

The company says those products shipped from May 27 through August 21, 2026 to wholesale distributors and grocery stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Traceback also tied Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts to restaurant clusters in those two states. 2 3 5

If the cup matches, do not taste-test it. Throw it away or return it. If you froze sprouts without the original packaging and cannot tell whether they are part of the recall, throw them away. 2

Restaurant meals are harder to reverse-engineer from home. If you ate alfalfa sprouts on a sandwich, salad, wrap, or bowl in Minnesota or Wisconsin during the shipping window, treat that as possible exposure and watch for symptoms rather than trying to reconstruct every supplier.

Clean what the package touched

CDC and FDA both say to wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled sprouts with hot soapy water or run them through a dishwasher. Clean fridge shelves, cutting boards, knives, reusable containers, and any tongs or lids that sat with the package. 1 2

Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the package or cleaning up. Do not rinse and keep the sprouts. Washing does not make a recalled product safe.

What the illnesses feel like

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) often brings severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that can turn bloody, and sometimes vomiting or a low fever. FDA notes symptoms can start a few days after exposure and up to about nine days later. Most people recover within about a week, but STEC can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney complication. 2 6 7

Salmonella usually means diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms often start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last about 4 to 7 days. Some people also get headache, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. 2 8

You will not know from home which germ you have. The practical takeaway is the same: bloody diarrhea, high fever, dehydration, or symptoms that keep getting worse change the plan from hydration-and-wait to medical care.

Home care that does not backfire

If you have diarrhea after a possible sprout exposure, drink extra fluids. Dehydration signs include little or no peeing, very dark pee, strong thirst, a dry mouth or throat, and dizziness when you stand. 6 9

Two medicine traps matter here:

Anti-diarrheal medicine such as loperamide (Imodium) can make some illnesses last longer. Do not use it with high fever or bloody diarrhea. Do not use it if STEC is known or strongly suspected, because it can raise the chance of HUS. Talk with a clinician or pharmacist before taking it. 9 10
Antibiotics are not a home experiment. Most people recover without them. For STEC specifically, CDC says antibiotics can increase the chance of HUS, so they are not the default move. 3 10

If you are sick, wash hands after using the bathroom, skip preparing food for other people when you can, stay out of shared pools and hot tubs, and wait on sex until you are better. CDC also says people can keep shedding Salmonella in stool for at least two weeks after diarrhea ends, so keep the hygiene careful after you feel better. 9

When to call a clinician the same day

CDC says to call a healthcare provider right away for:

Diarrhea plus a fever higher than 102°F
Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days without improvement
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting so hard you cannot keep liquids down
Dehydration signs such as little peeing, dry mouth and throat, or dizziness when standing 1

Mention the recalled sprouts or a recent restaurant sprout meal if that is in your timeline. It helps the clinician decide on testing and which medicines to avoid.

When it is an emergency

HUS is a medical emergency. After STEC illness, watch for little or no peeing, loss of pink color in the cheeks or inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or a rash of tiny red spots, blood in pee, extreme tiredness or irritability, or decreased alertness. 6

Go to the ER or call 911 for those signs, for severe dehydration with confusion or fainting, or for bloody diarrhea that is getting worse fast while you cannot keep fluids down. Do not wait for a routine next-week appointment.

The short version

Check your fridge for Calco or Everything Sprouts alfalfa products with lots 222, 223, 225, 226, or 230, including the Protein and Zesty Garlic mixes.
Throw matching product away or return it, then wash surfaces and hands.
If you ate alfalfa sprouts at a Minnesota or Wisconsin restaurant during late May through mid-August, watch for cramps, diarrhea, fever, or vomiting over the next several days.
Hydrate. Skip anti-diarrheal medicine and random antibiotics if the picture looks like STEC or the diarrhea is bloody or high-fever.
Call a clinician for bloody diarrhea, fever over 102°F, diarrhea past two days, or dehydration. Treat HUS signs as an emergency.

The practical response is a plain checklist for the cups that match this recall—and a clear line for when diarrhea stops being a wait-and-see problem.

Fuentes de referencia

1
CDC: E. coli and Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts
cdc.gov
2
FDA: Outbreak investigation of STEC and Salmonella in sprouts
fda.gov
3
CDC: Investigation update
cdc.gov
4
CDC: Where people got sick
cdc.gov
5
FDA: Everything Sprouts recall announcement
fda.gov
6
CDC: Symptoms of E. coli infection
cdc.gov
7
CDC: About E. coli infection
cdc.gov
8
CDC: Symptoms of Salmonella infection
cdc.gov
9
CDC: Treatment of Salmonella infection
cdc.gov
10
CDC: Treatment of E. coli infection
cdc.gov