Listeria-Tainted Sprouts Trigger Health Alert in NY

ALBANY, N.Y.New Yorks Department of Agriculture & Markets issued a public health warning not to eat Springwater Sprouts brand organic alfalfa sprouts or clover sprouts produced by Alfa Sprouts, Inc., of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., because they may be contaminated with Listeria.

The company issued a recall of clear clamshell packages containing 4-ounce Organic Alfalfa Sprouts with a sell by date of April 28, 2012, and UPC Codes 688267047411 and 042891000523 distributed to retailers in New York. The recall also includes 3# bulk containers of Clover Sprouts, with a production code of P93 that were distributed to institutional accounts in Upstate New York.

The contamination was discovered after sampling under the USDA Microbiological Data Program by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets inspectors and subsequent analysis by the New York State Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product.