Salmonella in Broccoli Sprouts: Recall Dates Run Through September 16, So Check Your Fridge

Sprouts are having a rough September. On September 10, the FDA posted a new outbreak investigation: Salmonella Bovismorbificans infections linked to broccoli sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Moyie Springs, Idaho. And it's not even the only sprout outbreak on the board right now — a separate investigation into E. coli and Salmonella Agona illnesses tied to alfalfa sprouts has been active since mid-August, with recalls still rolling out this week.

If you buy sprouts for stir-fries, sandwiches, or smoothie bowls, this one's worth two minutes of your attention — especially because some of the recalled product is dated through September 16. It could still be sitting in your crisper drawer right now.

What the FDA is reporting

As of the FDA's September 9 update on the broccoli sprouts investigation:

• 22 people have gotten sick, with 2 hospitalizations and no deaths reported.
• Cases have been reported in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Washington.
• The recalled product is broccoli sprouts grown by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, packaged in plastic bags or clamshell containers, with expiration dates of 9/7, 9/9, 9/11, 9/14, and 9/16.
• The company began the recall on September 4 after Montana state officials found Salmonella in a sample; genetic testing matched it to the outbreak strain.

The FDA's advice is blunt: don't eat, serve, or sell the recalled sprouts. If you're not sure whether the sprouts in your fridge are part of the recall, throw them out anyway — sprouts are cheap, and a week of Salmonella is not. You can keep an eye on this and the alfalfa sprout investigation on the FDA's active outbreak investigations page.

Why it's always sprouts

Raw sprouts show up in outbreak news so often that food-safety folks treat them as their own category. The reason is simple: the warm, humid conditions that make seeds sprout are the same conditions bacteria love, and contamination can live on or inside the seed itself, where no amount of rinsing reaches it. Cooking kills Salmonella; a cold sandwich doesn't. If anyone in your house is pregnant, elderly, very young, or immunocompromised, raw sprouts are a food worth skipping entirely.

If you're already sick, start with a doctor — not a home remedy

Salmonella typically shows up six hours to six days after exposure: diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, usually running four to seven days. Most healthy adults get through it, but don't tough it out on guesswork. If you think you have a Salmonella infection, call your doctor. Confirming it requires a stool test, some cases need prescription treatment, and severe or bloody diarrhea, high fever, or signs of dehydration deserve prompt medical attention. That goes double for kids, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

The part nobody warns you about: what days of diarrhea do to hemorrhoids

Here's the downstream problem we hear about constantly. A multi-day GI bug means a dozen or more trips to the bathroom a day — and all that urgency, acidic stool, and repeated wiping is genuinely rough on the skin and blood vessels around your backside. If you already have hemorrhoids, a bout of infectious diarrhea is one of the most reliable ways to wake them up. If you've never had them, a bad week can be the introduction.

To be completely clear: nothing below treats the infection itself. That's between you, your doctor, and time. But you can keep the collateral damage down while your gut does its thing:

• Retire the dry toilet paper for now. Aggressive wiping on irritated skin makes everything worse. Blot gently, and use a hygienic cleansing lotion to clean the area without scrubbing it raw.
• Warm water is your friend. A 10–15 minute soak in a warm sitz bath once or twice a day calms irritated tissue and helps you feel human again between bathroom runs.
• For hemorrhoid pain and swelling, once the constant bathroom trips ease up, an advanced hemorrhoid cream with 5% lidocaine and phenylephrine can give temporary relief from the pain, itching, and swelling of a flare while things settle.
• Drink more than you think you need. Diarrhea is dehydrating, and dehydration firms up stool later — setting you up for the constipation-and-straining sequel nobody wants. Water and electrolytes now save you a second round of trouble.

The two-minute takeaway

Check your fridge for Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts with expiration dates through 9/16 and toss them. Skip raw sprouts for a bit if you're in a higher-risk group. If you get sick, see your doctor — and while you ride it out, treat the skin down there like it's been through something, because it has.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.