Seven in hospital, 14 more sick with salmonella from alfalfa sprouts

SA HEALTH is warning people not to eat alfalfa sprouts from SA Sprouts after 21 people were confirmed to have contracted salmonella. Seven are now in hospital.

SEVEN people are in hospital and another 14 sick from eating alfalfa sprouts, triggering a SA Health warning to the public not to eat alfalfa sprout products produced by Adelaide business SA Sprouts.

SA Health Chief Medical Officer and Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips, said there had been 21 confirmed cases of Salmonella havana linked to the sprouts.

“We are advising anyone who has purchased the recalled SA Sprouts alfalfa sprouts products to return them to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw them away,” Prof Phillips said.

“We also want to alert cafes and restaurants to check their suppliers and not serve any SA Sprouts alfalfa sprout products until further notice.

Here’s the range of alfalfa sprout products linked to a Salmonella outbreak. Adelaide business SA Sprouts has been ordered to stop supplying them for now. Anyone who’s bought them should throw them away or return for a refund. #7News pic.twitter.com/kGBukl2RGH

— Mark Mooney (@MarkMooney7) June 20, 2018

“In cases of salmonella a common food source is not often identified, however a joint investigation between SA Health, local government and Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has linked these cases to SA Sprouts alfalfa sprouts.

“We are working closely with the producer and suppliers while we continue to investigate.”

People can experience symptoms of salmonella infection between six and 72 hours after exposure and symptoms usually last for three to seven days.

SA Health warning after seven people were hospitalised with salmonella after eating SA Sprouts alfalfa. Picture: Supplied.

Symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and loss of appetite.

Anyone who develops these symptoms and is concerned should see their doctor, particularly young children, older people, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised because they are at risk of more severe illness.

SA Sprouts products are sold at Drakes Foodland, IGA and numerous greengrocers.

Products included in the recall are alfalfa (125g and 200g tubs, 1kg bags), green alfalfa (125g tubs), alfalfa and radish (125g tubs), alfalfa and onion (125g tubs), alfalfa and mustard (125g tubs), alfalfa and Chinese cabbage (125g tubs), alfalfa and garlic (125g tubs), salad mix (175g tubs) and gourmet sprouts (100g trio pack with alfalfa, snow pea, small sprouted bean).

There have been 751 cases of salmonella infection (all types) reported to SA Health this year, compared to 829 at the same time last year and a total of 1432 for 2017.

For more information, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/foodsafety.