2003 Outbreak of Salmonella Linked to Harmony Farms Sprouts
Alfalfa, onion, and salad sprouts were recalled by Harmony Farms, a fresh sprout producer in Washington state. Two outbreaks of Salmonella in March (Salmonella Saintpaul) and November (Salmonella Chester) affected nine and thirteen people, respectively. After the March outbreak, Harmony Farms increased testing of irrigation water, but this failed to prevent further outbreaks. In the aftermath of the November outbreak, inspectors confirmed that the company was in compliance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations. A year prior to these outbreaks, a Centers for Disease Control report showed that compliance with the FDA recommendations did not effectively prevent seed contamination.
- Outbreak began:
- March 2003
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- Oregon
- Organism(s):
-
- Salmonella
- Vehicle(s):
- Vegetable, sprouts, onion, alfalfa, salad
- Molecular Results Available:
- Unknown
- Test Results:
- None
- Location(s):
- Grocery stores
- Brand Name(s):
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Yes
- Total ill:
- 22
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Yes
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- 22
- Number Probable Cases:
- 0
- Number Possible Cases:
- 0
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Unknown
- Number Hospitalized:
- Unknown
- Any Deaths:
- Unknown
- Number Dead:
- Unknown
- Any References:
- Yes