A Q&A from the U.S. government about raw sprout safety says that if consumers choose to buy sprouts, they should “avoid musty-smelling, dark, or slimy-looking sprouts.”

Sound advice, for raw sprouts or a potential partner.

A table of sprout-related outbreaks is available at:
http://bites.ksu.edu/sprout-associated-outbreaks-north-america-1990-2009.