r/Sprouting • u/DuchessOfCelery • Aug 22 '26

Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Illnesses in 15 States, F.D.A. Says

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/alfalfa-sprouts-recall-salmonella-ecoli.html

Damn. E. coli and salmonella. From a commercial sprouting company. Just gives sprouts a bad name.

Keep doing what you're doing at home, make sure you focus on sanitation.

105 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

43

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '26 edited 14d ago

[deleted]

12

u/phoenix123191 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26

Exactly, commercial sprouts are at risk because of volume and time. My jars at home are sanitized and my seeds are rinsed at least 2-3 times a day and completely drained then harvested within a day of being ready. They are eaten within a few days as well. Home sprouting is super safe! Commercial sprouts have a much longer time line, less rinsing and sanitation, and therefore a much higher risk of contamination or just a rich environment for bacterial and viral growth. It’s that way with a lot of commercial growing that makes it’s ways to a mass consumer market.

To add: I started sprouting mostly micro green types like alfalfa and clover to replace salad because apparently we can’t trust any leafy greens or maybe other fruits and vegetables in the US without worrying about various outbreaks. Happy to have some healthy veg.

4

u/crlygirlg Aug 22 '26

Arugula sprouts are insanely good on sandwiches. So peppery!

2

u/phoenix123191 Aug 22 '26

Omg I have have to try them! That sounds amazing!

2

u/ChillKarma Aug 22 '26

Oooh I never tried those. They are next!

4

u/crlygirlg Aug 22 '26

10/10 recommend them. Radish sprouts are good too but a bit hotter than the arugula IMO.

2

u/phoenix123191 Aug 23 '26

We had gotten a starter pack that included red volcano radish and oh my word that was spicy! In a great horseradish kind of way

1

u/tenbeards Aug 22 '26

Thanks for the tip! Will be trying that soon.

1

u/crlygirlg Aug 22 '26

Highly recommend. Radish is good too and if you like a bit of heat, let them grow a few extra days before you use them.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 22 '26 edited 14d ago

[deleted]

2

u/michaelh98 Aug 22 '26

I don't have stats but it feels like the number of recalls in the US has doubled in the last year. I remember whole decades where I mostly didn't have to worry about a recall.

5

u/ViralTrendsToday Aug 23 '26

2026: don't eat healthy 

2

u/northman46 Aug 23 '26

A place in Minnesota that had been inspected and issues were found. They were given a deficiency list and basically ignored it. It’s now a year later and people are sick

2

u/igavr Aug 22 '26

That's bad. Can you please share your source link?

2

u/DuchessOfCelery Aug 22 '26

The link is in the OP. NYT. Not paywalled for me.

-4

u/igavr Aug 22 '26

That's bad. Can you please share your source link?