The Other Sprout Outbreak: Your E. coli and Salmonella Questions, Answered

If you caught the news about contaminated broccoli sprouts recently, here's the part that's easy to miss: there's a second, separate sprout outbreak happening at the same time — and this one involves two pathogens at once. The CDC is investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts. People have questions. Let's answer them.

What exactly is going on?

According to the CDC's outbreak page, 55 people across 15 states have gotten sick, with 4 hospitalizations and no deaths reported so far. What makes this outbreak unusual is that it involves both E. coli and Salmonella — and at least two people were infected with both at the same time.

The sprouts in question came from Everything Sprouts, LLC, sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brand names. The company recalled its alfalfa sprouts on August 22, then expanded the recall to include certain lots of Robust Radish Sprout Mix because of possible cross-contamination.

Wait, I thought the outbreak was about broccoli sprouts?

That's the other one. A separate Salmonella outbreak tied to broccoli sprouts from a different grower is also under active FDA investigation. Two different companies, two different investigations, one message: raw sprouts are having a very bad month.

Why are sprouts always the culprit?

Sprouts grow in exactly the conditions bacteria love — warm, humid, and wet, for days. If a single seed carries E. coli or Salmonella, sprouting multiplies it. That's why food safety experts have long put raw sprouts on the "risky for vulnerable people" list. Cooking kills the bacteria; the sprouts on your sandwich never got that step.

What should I do right now?

• Check the fridge for alfalfa sprouts or radish sprout mix from Calco or Everything Sprouts. Toss them or return them — don't taste-test.
• Wash anything the sprouts touched: drawers, containers, cutting boards, your hands.
• Watch for symptoms. E. coli tends to bring severe cramps and diarrhea that may turn bloody; Salmonella brings diarrhea, fever, and cramps, usually within a few days of exposure.

When do I need a doctor?

If you think you have either infection, see a doctor — this is not a self-diagnosis situation. Confirming E. coli or Salmonella requires a stool test, and treatment decisions matter: some E. coli infections can get worse with the wrong antibiotic. Go promptly if you have bloody diarrhea, a fever over 102°F, signs of dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than a couple of days. Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone immunocompromised should call early rather than wait.

What does any of this have to do with hemorrhoids?

More than you'd think. A foodborne infection can mean days of urgent, frequent diarrhea — and that's genuinely rough on the anorectal area. Repeated bowel movements, constant wiping, and acidic, irritating stool inflame tissue that may already be prone to hemorrhoids. Plenty of people come out the other side of a stomach bug with a flare-up that outlasts the infection itself.

How do I protect that area during a bad GI week?

You can't rush the infection (that's between you and your doctor), but you can stop making the skin situation worse:

• Retire the dry toilet paper scrub. After the tenth trip, dry paper is sandpaper. A gentle, rinse-based routine with a hygienic cleansing lotion cleans without the friction.
• Pat, never rub. Blot dry with soft paper or a clean towel.
• Soak once things calm down. A 10–15 minute warm sitz bath with a sitz bath soak soothes irritated tissue and helps you feel human again.
• Treat flare-up symptoms directly. If a hemorrhoid flares, a cream like Advanced Hemorrhoid Cream (5% lidocaine plus phenylephrine) offers temporary relief from the pain, burning, and swelling. To be clear: it relieves hemorrhoid symptoms only — it does nothing against E. coli, Salmonella, or the diarrhea itself. The infection needs a doctor; the flare-up is what you can manage at home.
• Rehydrate like it's your job. Diarrhea drains fluids fast, and dehydration sets you up for constipation afterward — trading one hemorrhoid trigger for another. Water, broth, and oral rehydration solutions all count.

The bottom line

Check your fridge against the recalls, see a doctor if you suspect infection, and be kind to your backside while your gut sorts itself out. The CDC and FDA pages linked above have the current recall details if you want to go straight to the source.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional about symptoms, diagnosis, or treatment.