Raw Sprouts Linked To Salmonella Poisoning In 10 States

Sixty-three people across 10 states along the East Coast have fallen ill with salmonella poisoning from consuming raw sprouts from the end of September to the beginning of November, reports The Associated Press.

The outbreak is the third case lined to raw sprouts in recent history — listeria has been traced back to mung bean sprouts, and E. Coli has been linked to raw clover sprouts over the past several months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the supplier, Wonton Food Inc. in Brooklyn has agreed to stop production for the time being. Raw sprouts are considered "a frequent culprit in foodborne illness because of the moist, warm conditions in which they are grown," and federal regulators have long warned consumers to exercise caution when eating them, advising that all sprouts be cooked thoroughly before consumption.

In some instances, contamination results from an ideal environment from bacteria, and "can be impossible to wash off."

According to the CDC, the supplier, Wonton Food, has "has verbally agreed to voluntarily stop the production and sale of their bean sprouts while they take steps to prevent salmonella contamination."

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Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.