Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Broccoli Sprouts
Eating or growing recalled broccoli sprouts and microgreens from contaminated imported seed carried Salmonella risk.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Organic Food
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The CDC and FDA have declared over a Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts and microgreens that sickened 34 people across six states, including Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The sprouts were grown from a contaminated broccoli seed lot imported from New Zealand, and recalled seeds were sold nationwide through company websites and major online retailers.
Why it matters
The outbreak shows how contamination in a seed lot can reach home growers and consumers far from the original source, because the same seeds used to grow sprouts were sold for home gardening. Public health officials declared the outbreak over on Nov. 5, 2026, but the case count is likely an undercount, since CDC estimates about 29 undetected illnesses for each confirmed case.
The outbreak was tracked through case interviews with 30 people, of whom 29 reported eating sprouts or microgreens before illness, and through laboratory testing of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts-brand broccoli sprout samples and FDA broccoli seed samples, which matched the outbreak strain of Salmonella. CDC's estimate of 29 undetected cases for each confirmed case suggests the true number of illnesses is substantially higher than the 34 counted.
The players
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The U.S. federal agency that leads national infectious disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, including foodborne illness such as Salmonella.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The federal agency responsible for food safety oversight, including sampling and recall coordination for produce, sprouts, and seeds.
The details
Broccoli seeds were imported from New Zealand, and a domestic seed supplier recalled the lot after FDA samples tested positive for Salmonella matching the outbreak strain. Sprouts and microgreens grown from that seed lot carried the bacteria, which can cause fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, and the Evergreen Fresh Sprouts-brand broccoli sprouts involved have been recalled because they are past their expiration date. The outbreak is separate from the alfalfa sprout outbreaks linked to Everything Sprouts, LLC.
Timeline
Illnesses began between July 7 and Sept. 11, 2026.
CDC and FDA declared the outbreak over on Nov. 5, 2026.
Health Landscape
Raw sprouts have repeatedly been identified as a source of Salmonella in U.S. outbreaks, prompting ongoing FDA sprout safety guidance. This outbreak adds to that record by showing contamination can originate upstream in imported seed rather than only at the growing facility.
If you bought broccoli sprouts, microgreens, or broccoli seeds for home growing, check whether the Evergreen Fresh Sprouts-brand product is past its expiration date and discard any recalled product. Anyone who develops diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps after eating sprouts is worth discussing with a doctor.
The takeaway
Raw sprouts and microgreens can carry Salmonella even when grown from seed sold for home use, so checking recalls and expiration dates matters. Cooking sprouts thoroughly and washing hands after handling raw produce are broadly safe habits worth keeping.
Further reading
For broader context on produce safety and how sprouts and microgreens are handled, see our Organic Food coverage.
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