Alfalfa sprouts linked to Nebraska salmonella outbreak

Health officials in Nebraska have identified alfalfa sprouts as the likely source of a salmonella poisoning outbreak that has sickened 24, and hospitalized at least 2.

The affected sprouts come from CW Sprouts of Omaha, Neb. The sprouts are sold as Sunsprouts in grocery stores and served at restaurants.

Officials were able to identify the source of the outbreak after extensive interviews with the victims.

While investigators probing the outbreak are looking at the facility where the sprouts are packaged and distributed, it is believed that the sprouts were likely contaminated prior to arriving there.

Coming in contact with humidity during the growing process, as well as fertilizers can harbor salmonella bacteria, and greens such as sprouts have been contaminated in the past through runoff water from nearby farms.

Food and Drug Administration officials called the CW Sprouts facility “one of the cleanest” they ever inspected.