Broccoli Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak: 32 Sick in 6 States

On September 24, 2026, federal health officials confirmed 32 illnesses and three hospitalizations across six states linked to Salmonella Bovismorbificans in Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts. An unrelated September 23 recall also removed 950 pounds of Berlin Seeds alfalfa sprouting seed distributed to 44 states over potential Salmonella and E. coli contamination.

Key takeaways

• The CDC and FDA have linked 32 Salmonella Bovismorbificans illnesses across six states to recalled broccoli sprouts distributed by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC.
• Evergreen Fresh Sprouts recalled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts on September 10, 2026, covering plastic bags and clamshells with September expiration dates.
• A separate, unlinked recall announced on September 23, 2026, involves 950 pounds of Berlin Seeds alfalfa sprouting seed distributed to 44 states due to potential Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
• Bags of the recalled alfalfa sprouting seed weighing one pound or less have no lot codes, requiring buyers to verify purchase dates between February 13 and August 23, 2026.
• Public health authorities consistently advise higher-risk groups, including young children, older adults, pregnant people, and immunocompromised individuals, to avoid consuming raw sprouts.

What happened

On September 24, 2026, the CDC released an updated Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Broccoli Sprouts - Investigation Notice documenting 32 confirmed cases of Salmonella Bovismorbificans across Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Illness onset dates range from July 7, 2026, to September 3, 2026. Patient ages span from 2 to 87 years, with a median age of 52. Among the 27 sick individuals interviewed by state and local public health officials, 26 people, or 96 percent, reported eating sprouts or microgreens before becoming ill.

Of those, 22 said they specifically ate broccoli sprouts and one ate a microgreen mix containing broccoli microgreens. Three people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. The investigation, conducted jointly with the Food and Drug Administration according to the Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Sprouts (September 2026), traced the contaminated produce back to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC, located in Moyie Springs, Idaho. Washington State officials tested Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts collected from a grocery store and from a sick person's home; both samples were positive, and whole genome sequencing matched them to the outbreak strain. The grower recalled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts on September 10, 2026.

Separately, on September 23, 2026, the FDA posted a notice titled Berlin Seeds Recalls Alfalfa Sprouting Seed Because of Possible Health Risk. Berlin Seeds of Millersburg, Ohio, recalled 950 pounds of Alfalfa Sprouting Seed because of potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and/or Salmonella. One illness has been reported to Berlin Seeds. The FDA identified this seed lot during an investigation into a completely different outbreak.

What changed?

Evergreen Fresh Sprouts withdrew 215 cases of product from commerce on September 10, 2026, focusing on specific lots sold in plastic retail bags and plastic clamshell containers. The recall applies strictly to units with expiration dates of 9/7, 9/9, 9/11, 9/14, and 9/16. The FDA verified that these products were directly distributed to retailers and distributors in Idaho, Montana, and Washington, though officials note the product may have been distributed further into secondary markets.

Separately, Berlin Seeds recalled 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seed sold in store and online between February 13, 2026, and August 23, 2026, to customers in 44 states.

It is critical to note that the Berlin Seeds recall is not linked to the Evergreen Fresh Sprouts Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak. The FDA says the broccoli sprout outbreak is being investigated separately from the E. coli and Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts that led investigators to the Berlin Seeds lot.

Who is affected?

To date, laboratory-confirmed illnesses have been logged in six states: Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The FDA says the recalled sprouts should now be past their expiration dates and no longer on sale.

The Berlin Seeds distribution footprint is substantially broader. Sprouting seeds were dispatched to 44 states through postal delivery and direct web sales. Unlike fresh sprouts intended for immediate eating, dormant alfalfa seeds remain shelf-stable for months or years. Home growers who purchased seed anytime between mid-February and late August 2026 may still have recalled seed at home.

Young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system are more likely to become seriously ill from foodborne infections, and health agencies have long advised these groups to avoid raw sprouts.

What it means for shoppers

For grocery shoppers, identifying whether a package of broccoli sprouts falls under the Evergreen Fresh Sprouts recall depends entirely on the expiration date printed on the exterior packaging. Inspect the lid of clamshell containers or the heat-sealed edge of plastic bags for expiration dates reading 9/7, 9/9, 9/11, 9/14, or 9/16. If you find these items in your refrigerator, do not eat them; the FDA advises carefully cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces or containers they touched.

Checking home-sprouting seed supplies requires examining bag weights and batch codes. For the Berlin Seeds alfalfa recall, look for the following product specifications:

• Five-pound and 50-pound bulk sacks: Marked with lot code SAL2-24JB.
• Small retail packets (1/4-pound, 1/2-pound, and 1-pound bags): These sizes carry no lot code on the packaging.
• Purchase timeframe: Any Berlin Seeds alfalfa sprouting seed purchased between February 13, 2026, and August 23, 2026, should be considered recalled if a lot code is absent.

The background

Sprouts represent a unique and recurring food-safety challenge in the produce sector. The warm, humid conditions needed to sprout a seed also suit bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, so a small amount of contamination on seeds can multiply during the days of sprouting.

Because sprouts are predominantly consumed raw to preserve their crisp texture, they bypass the traditional lethal kill-step of thermal cooking. Rinsing at home removes dirt but cannot be relied on to remove bacteria. The same raw-produce problem ran through this summer's Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce and the E. coli outbreak linked to frozen blueberries.

What to watch next?

The CDC and FDA outbreak investigation into Evergreen Fresh Sprouts remains ongoing as of September 25, 2026. Current evidence cannot establish final case totals, nor can it predict whether distribution records will reveal additional downstream retailers outside the initial western states.

The FDA says it is continuing its investigation to determine the source of contamination and whether other products of concern may be on the market.

Individuals who develop symptoms of Salmonella infection, which typically include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps emerging between six hours and six days after consumption, should contact a healthcare provider.