Gardeners Basics has recalled one-pound bags of its broccoli sprouting seeds because the seed lot behind them is tied to a Salmonella outbreak that has made 32 people sick in six states.
Story Highlights
- The recall covers one-pound bags of Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds, UPC 848137042889, marked “Packed for 2027.”
- The bags were sold online through Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, eBay, Etsy and the company’s own website.
- Federal testing tied the bulk seed lot, W4105, to an outbreak with 32 people sick in six states and three in the hospital.
- The Food and Drug Administration has not named the seed supplier, even as more companies recall seeds from the same lot.
Why These Seeds Were Pulled
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency that oversees food safety, found Salmonella in a sample of broccoli seed from the supplier. Salmonella is a germ that causes food poisoning, with diarrhea, cramps and fever. A DNA fingerprint test, called whole genome sequencing, showed the germ in the seed matched the strain making people sick. As of Oct. 7, officials counted 32 sick people in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Three were hospitalized, and no one has died.
Gardeners Basics, a seed company in Spanish Fork, Utah, announced its recall on Thursday, Oct. 8, and the FDA posted the notice the same day. The company said its supplier told it on Saturday, Sept. 26, that bulk seed lot W4105 had been recalled. The company said no illnesses tied to its own bags had been reported to it as of Oct. 6. Sales of the product have stopped.
How to Check Your Pantry
Sprouting seeds are seeds sold to be soaked and grown into sprouts at home, then eaten raw. Seeds like these can sit in a cupboard for months, so it is worth a look. The recalled product is Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds in a white and green resealable pouch. The bag holds one pound (454 grams), carries UPC 848137042889 and is marked “Packed for 2027.” It was shipped to homes across the country from online orders.
What to Do If You Have a Bag
Do not eat the seeds, and do not sprout them. Do not eat any sprouts you have already grown from them. The company says to seal the seeds and any sprouts in a bag and throw them away. No return is needed. If you are not sure whether your bag is part of the recall, stop using it and contact the company.
Gardeners Basics says customers who have not already been refunded can reach it for a refund. Have your order number and the name of the store where you bought the seeds. The company can be reached by email at [email protected], or by text or voicemail at 801-769-6181. The company says live calls are not answered.
Who Is Most at Risk
According to the recall notice, young children, frail or elderly people and others with weak immune systems can get serious and sometimes deadly Salmonella infections. Healthy people often have fever, diarrhea that may be bloody, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Symptoms usually start 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Anyone who ate sprouts and then got sick should see a doctor and mention Salmonella, since a special test is needed to find it.
The Same Seed Lot, Three Recalls
Gardeners Basics is not the only company to recall seeds tied to lot W4105. EAK Distribution of Casper, Wyoming, recalled its Home Grown green sprouting broccoli seeds on Friday, Oct. 2. Eden Brothers of Arden, North Carolina, recalled its Calabrese broccoli seeds on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Earlier, health officials in Washington found the outbreak strain in broccoli sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts of Moyie Springs, Idaho, which recalled broccoli sprouts on Sept. 4.
The FDA knows which supplier sold the seed and says that supplier has recalled the lot and contacted its customers. The agency has not released the supplier’s name. Officials have said only that the illnesses came from sprouts grown from a contaminated seed lot. Health officials also say the true number of sick people is likely higher, because many people with food poisoning never see a doctor or get tested.
Sources:
foodsafetynews.com, fda.gov, yahoo.com, newsbreak.com
