Tag Archives: evergreen

Slipped my mind: Evergreen decides to recall sprouts linked to 21 salmonella sickies

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After refusing to voluntarily recall raw sprouts linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 21 people, Evergreen Fresh Sprouts has now announced a voluntary recall of Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts because it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

Owner Nadine Scharf said three days ago, “The FDA encouraged us to do a recall but I said I needed to see hard evidence that our sprouts were involved. They are down to only three cases now. It started out that they thought 20 people were sick, then they dropped that number to six and now it’s down to three. And they say it will be a week before any tests results will be available.”

Guess she got her hard evidence.

As of June 27, 2011, a total of 21 individuals, including three hospitalizations, infected with outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from five states: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, and Washington.

The recalled Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts were distributed in Washington and Idaho by direct delivery to four distributors and three retail stores. The recalled products are coded with Expiration Dates from 06 22 through 07 14. The products being recalled are identified as:

· Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00103 7.
· Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00108 2.
· Alfalfa Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 5 lb. bag, no UPC.
· Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 4 oz. bag, UPC 8 38796 00102 0.
· Spicy Sprouts, Evergreen Produce, 16 oz. or 5 lb. bag, no UPC.
 

FDA issues warning; grower won’t recall sprouts

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This is why I don’t pay attention to government: for months, Americans have been told that under new legislation the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would have the authority to recall products.

Instead of a recall, FDA warned consumers yesterday not to eat alfalfa sprouts from Evergreen Produce because of possible salmonella contamination, which has apparently sickened 20.

According to The Packer, the owner of the company declined to recall her product until the agency could provide “hard evidence.”

(That’s what she said.)

Nadine Scharf owns 23-year-old Evergreen Produce Inc., Moyie, Idaho. She said June 27 that someone reported to health officials that they had gotten sick after eating Evergreen sprouts in recent weeks, but that there haven’t been any new illnesses reported since June 2.

“The FDA encouraged us to do a recall but I said I needed to see hard evidence that our sprouts were involved. They are down to only three cases now. It started out that they thought 20 people were sick, then they dropped that number to six and now it’s down to three. And they say it will be a week before any tests results will be available.”

Scharf said government officials took swab samples throughout her hydroponic growing operation, but she said the first batch of samples was sent to the wrong place. So, more swabs were taken and Scharf is still awaiting results.

In the meantime, she laid off half of her 14 employees and shut down production of her alfalfa and spicy sprout lines as a precautionary move.

“If I had the money I would be fighting what they (FDA and Idaho state health officials) have done,” Scharf said. “They have issued that statement and smeared us without any evidence.”

Scharf said Evergreen Produce always tests its seed lots before using them. The company has third-party water tests done three times each week.

“The military also comes in once every quarter for an audit and we always pass those without any problems,” Scharf said.

Sprouts still suck: FDA says do not eat Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts

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The FDA is warning consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.”

The sprouts are possibly linked to 20 reported cases, including one hospitalization, of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State.

The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.

Consumers, retailers and others who have alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts in plastic bags labeled “Evergreen Produce” or “Evergreen Produce Inc.” should discard them in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.