More grocery store produce has been linked to stomach illnesses in NC
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More produce is causing illnesses during a summer marked by the spread of foodborne pathogens.
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More than 50 people have been sickened with either E. coli or salmonella — and two with both — after eating alfalfa sprouts. Two of the cases were in North Carolina, and 14 other states have been affected.
The cases have been linked to alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts and sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands at retailers and grocery stores. A recall has not been issued.
The Center for Disease Control recommends people do not eat the sprouts, but instead toss or return them. Clean any surfaces the sprouts have touched.
The summer of 2026 has been marred by an outbreak of cyclospora — a parasite that causes prolonged, “explosive” gastrointestinal symptoms — amid a wave of other recalls, including iceberg lettuce tied to cyclosporiasis, as well as jalapenos and blueberries tied to E. coli, the Charlotte Observer previously reported.
E. coli cases tend to rise in the summer, as do cyclosporiasis cases.
E. coli bacteria is naturally found in the body, but some types are harmful to human beings. These forms produce Shiga toxins, which cause illness. Around 100 people die in the United States yearly of E. coli infections, according to the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
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Primary sources of E. coli include raw and undercooked ground meat, raw milk and fecal contamination of produce, according to the World Health Organization. Cooking foods thoroughly and washing (and if possible, peeling) produce helps lower risk.
People can become infected with salmonella by eating raw and undercooked foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs and raw milk. People may also get salmonella from handling animals, including pets. In recent years, more outbreaks have been caused by consuming fresh produce, according to the NC Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps in most people infected. Those with weak immune systems, young children and seniors may experience more severe symptoms.
The alfalfa sprouts have been linked to both salmonella and E. coli. Consumers should be on the lookout for these symptoms and call a healthcare provider, per the CDC:
Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.
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