Nearly 100 sick in Salmonella outbreak linked to Alfalfa Sprouts

The nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated alfalfa sprouts has sickened close to 100 people, federal officials say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed to CNN at least 94 people were confirmed with Salmonella poisoning after eating Alfalfa Sprouts distributed by Tiny Greens Organic Farm, of Urbana, Ill.

The outbreak began around Nov. 1, and was first noticed among customers of Jimmy John’s restaurants in Illinois, one of Tiny Greens’ customers.

Follow-up reports have confirmed the contaminated sprouts were not exclusive to the restaurant. At least 16 states and the District of Columbia have confirmed victims of the outbreak. They may have eaten the sprouts at a restaurant or purchased them at the retail level.

As of now, the outbreak is contained to just alfalfa sprouts, but Tiny Greens also distributes arugula, broccoli, fennel, cauliflower, onion, radish and other produce.

Jimmy John’s franchises pulled the potentially contaminated sprouts from their restaurants soon after learning they were linked to confirmed Salmonella poisoning cases in Illinois.

One-fourth of all the victims required hospitalization, according to CDC reports.