Island County health officials are warning residents about eating alfalfa sprouts after a salmonella outbreak that left an Island County resident sick and a dozen others ill across Washington and Oregon.
The outbreak has been linked to alfalfa sprouts from Sprouters Northwest, Inc. in Kent. The company has agreed to voluntarily pull its sprouts from stores and halt distribution of the product.
The sprouts are sold in several different types of packages labeled “Alfalfa Sprouts,” or as mixed varieties that contain alfalfa sprouts as an ingredient.
Dr. Roger Case, health officer for Island County, said people should not eat products from Sprouters Northwest that contain alfalfa sprouts and throw them away immediately or return them to the store where they were purchased.
At least two people have been hospitalized since the outbreak of salmonella typhimurium was first reported in early August.
Nine people in Washington have fallen ill, including people in Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Whatcom and Clark counties.