Jimmy John’s switching to Clover Sprouts despite Salmonella outbreak in Northwest

Jimmy John’s Restaurants has dropped Alfalfa Sprouts from its menus after it was linked to a Salmonella outbreak in the Midwest. Instead, the restaurant will use Clover Sprouts on its sandwiches in the future, despite their being linked to a Salmonella outbreak in the Pacific Northwest.

It is not known where the restaurant chain will get its Clover Sprouts, but all corporate-owned locations will make the switch immediately. Franchise owners are being urged to make a similar change.

Jimmy John’s was linked to a Salmonella outbreak which has sickened nearly 100 people in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Many of the victims ate sandwiches with Alfalfa Sprouts from those restaurants.

Clover Sprouts were recalled on Jan. 1 by Washington-based Sprouters Northwest after it was determined their produce was linked to a Salmonella outbreak. Two of the nine people confirmed in that outbreak ate sandwiches with Clover Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants in Washington and Oregon.

An Oregon health official told industry magazine The Packer that Jimmy John’s sprout switch may likely lead to a bigger Clover Sprout outbreak