Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Jack & the Green Sprouts Alfalfa and Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts recall: Listeria monocytogenes

Recall published 2+ years ago

Listeria monocytogenes

Jack & the Green Sprouts Fresh produce — recalled fresh produceJack & the Green Sprouts Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 2)Jack & the Green Sprouts Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce (photo 3)
3 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

What the notice says: Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. of River Falls, WI is recalling its 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
October 4, 2024
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Jack & the Green Sprouts
Product type
Fresh produce
Distribution
Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Sold at
Sprouts
UPC codes
763247198915, 763247195945
Reports of harm
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Products covered by this recall

Alfalfa and Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts

What the company announced

Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. of River Falls, WI is recalling its 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The produce was sold in MN, WI and Iowa at grocery store and local Co-ops.

The product comes in a 5 ounce, clear plastic package marked with lot #300 UPC 763247198915 or #246 UPC 763247195945 on the top.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa sprouts.

The production of the product has been suspended while the company continues to investigate the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts are urged to discarded or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 715-425-9495, 8:00-2:00, Monday thru Fridays.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 4 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 763247198915
  • 763247195945

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 300

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 5 ounce

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Listeria

Jack & the Green Sprouts — Because the organism here is Listeria, the recall is about where the food has been rather than how it looks today. Treat an affected pack as contaminated even if it is sealed and in date.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. Wash and then sanitise anything the food touched: the fridge shelf and drawer, chopping boards, knives, counters and your hands. Listeria colonises cold surfaces and can survive there after the food is gone.
  3. If anyone in the household is pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised, call a clinician for advice even if nobody feels ill. That conversation is quick and it is the whole point of a Listeria recall.
  4. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.

Refunds, and what else you can claim

The purchase price is the floor, not the ceiling. Where a recall caused you a real cost, say so.

  • Claim the refund at the store first; it is the fastest route and needs the least paperwork.
  • If you bought several packs over time, list them. Firms routinely settle for more than a single unit when a customer asks.
  • Medical costs, lost earnings or a spoiled event are not handled at the service desk. Write to the company contact on this page instead, with dates and documents.
  • Keep copies of everything you send. If a recall caused harm, that file is what any later claim rests on.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts are urged to discarded or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. — Consumers: 715-425-9495

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Jack & the Green Sprouts fresh produce recalled?

Listeria monocytogenes Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. of River Falls, WI is recalling its 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes , an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 763247198915, 763247195945; lot code 300. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased 5 ounce packages of Alfalfa and Alfalfa Onion sprouts are urged to discarded or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin.

Related recalls