1999 Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Linked to Sprouts, Colorado

An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, in Colorado, resulted from consuming clover sprouts. The outbreak was detected through routine laboratory surveillance. The sprouts were traced to two Colorado suppliers that had obtained the seed from a single supplier in Oregon. The sprouts were recalled, and the seed company stopped distributing the implicated seeds. With these actions, the outbreak subsided. Salmonella Typhimurium was recovered from an environmental sample collected at one of the sprouters. No seed samples showed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. One of the sprouters disinfected the seeds in chlorine as was recommended. Fewer infections were attributed to sprouts from this sprouter. The disinfection technique reduced, but did not eliminate, the risk of infection.

Overview

Outbreak began:January 1999
Affected country:US
States/territories:CO
Pathogen:Salmonella Typhimurium
Vehicle(s):Sprouts
Location(s):Retail, Private Home, Restaurant
Brand name(s):Rainbow
Molecular test results:Not reported

Health impact

Total ill:112
Number hospitalized:3

Sources & documents

Recall notices
Report / reference links