Just when Spring has sprung and everyone out here in California is eating salads, there's been a double recall of contaminated alfalfa sprouts this weekend on the West Coast.
First, on Saturday, Salad Cosmo USA Corporation in Dixon, CA reported that bulk shipments of alfalfa sprouts may have been contaminated with salmonella. The recall sparked a recall of alfafa sprout packages in grocery stores in Northern and Central California, and Washington.
Then on Sunday, Trader Joe's, a grocery chain based in South Pasadena, CA with locations throughout the West Coast and other parts of the USA, recalled plastic tubs of Nature's Choice Alfalfa Sprouts. The sprouts were packed by J.H. Caldwell and Sons in Maywood, CA. Trader Joe's is concerned that the sprouts may be contaminated with an unidentified microorganism that causes food-borne illness. The Trader Joe's recall applies to products with a "Sell By" date of on or before 03/09/2008 and sold in stores in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
The California Department of Public Health says no illnesses have been reported. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever and vomiting, and can sometimes be fatal, so salmonella is not something to be taken lightly.
(Photo courtesy Garden Seeker)
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I've always been wary of sprouts (alfafa and bean).
Unlike ready to eat greens such as spinach, mesclun, etc., these just don't seem that easy to clean. And they way they bunch together it seems like they can trap bacteria more easily.
Plus, I've seen mounds of bean sprouts in Chinatown, in a garage, on a tarp, being shoveled into their packing boxes.
Years and years ago when people (my generation, anyway) became really interested in "health" foods, sprouts were the rage, and safe to eat. However, ask any health food guru and they will tell you that you are better off without them.
Not only is the potential for bacteria high, but let's face it, even in what we think to be organic circumstances, alfalfa sprouts in particular will leech any trace chemicals from their growth source. The nutrients found in them can be found elsewhere easily. I haven't eaten them in over 20 years because of this.
Sprouts are incredibly easy to grow yourself and you can control and avoid all of the worries mentioned here. They only take a few days to grow and are not labor intensive at all. Also, it is way cheaper to grow your own.
http://www.i4at.org/lib2/sprouts.htm