The Salmonella outbreak connected to bean sprouts that caused at least 115 illnesses in 12 Northeast states has been declared over, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 29 patients were hospitalized. In November, the bean sprout producer, Wonton Foods Inc., agreed to destroy remaining products while their facilities underwent a thorough cleaning and sanitization. The company resumed shipping bean sprouts on Nov. 29, 2014. Due to the 12-day shelf life of mung bean sprouts, authorities believe that any remaining contaminated product is unlikely to be available for consumption. “Although this outbreak appears to be over, sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness,” the CDC’s final outbreak report states. “CDC recommends that consumers, restaurants, and other retailers always follow food safety practices to avoid illness from eating sprouts.” Health professionals recommend that children, the elderly, pregnant women and others with relatively weak immune systems should not eat raw sprouts due to their potential to harbor harmful pathogens. Cooking sprouts significantly reduces the risk of foodborne illness. The number of illnesses identified in each state: Connecticut (8), Maine (4), Maryland (6), Massachusetts (36), Montana (1), New Hampshire (6), New York (22), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (18), Rhode Island (7), Vermont (3) and Virginia (1).
