After reviewing preliminary epidemiology reports concerning the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, Caudill Seed Company has withdrawn from the market all of the alfalfa seeds bearing six digit lot numbers that start with “032.”  All seeds involved in this market withdrawal came from Italy. 

The seeds are in 50-pound white bags that are either paper or woven from a synthetic material, and the lot numbers in question begin with “032,” followed by a hyphen and three more digits.  The bags carry a computer-generated white or yellow label, on which is printed “Distributed by Caudill Seed Company., 1402 W. Main St., Louisville KY  40203” and the lot number.

Seeds from the affected lots, lot numbers beginning with 032, and sprouts grown from them, should be safely discarded, as should other products that contain the sprouts, such as sprout blends.

FDA has long-standing guidance for the sprout industry and continues to urge growers to follow this guidance, which can reduce the risk of contamination with Salmonella and other bacteria (available on the FDA web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html).  FDA also urges retailers to use sprouts obtained from growers who follow the FDA guidance.

Over 150 people in several states have contracted the strain of Salmonella Saintpaul linked to contaminated alfalfa sprouts.  No deaths have been reported.