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Gardeners Basics has recalled one-pound bags of Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds distributed nationwide, citing a link to a Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak. At least 32 people in six states have been reported sick, including three who were hospitalized; the FDA has not named the supplier whose seed tested positive for the outbreak strain.
Gardeners Basics of Spanish Fork, Utah, has recalled one-pound bags of Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds linked to a multistate Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak, adding another product to a series of seed recalls as the FDA continues not to identify the supplier. At least 32 people in six states have been reported ill, with three hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the source report.
The recall covers Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds in white-and-green resealable pouches, with a net weight of one pound and UPC 848137042889. The packaging is marked “Packed for 2027.” The product was distributed across the United States and sold through Amazon, the company’s website, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy. Consumers should check the product name, package size and UPC against the recall details before using the seeds.
The outbreak has affected people in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The last reported patient’s symptoms began Sept. 3. The FDA’s investigation found that a sample of seeds from the supplier identified in the investigation tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing, a method used to compare pathogens’ genetic material, showed the sample matched the strain associated with illnesses in this outbreak, according to the report. The supplier recalled the implicated lot and contacted its customers, but the FDA has not publicly disclosed the supplier’s name.
The Gardeners Basics recall follows other recalls associated with the same supplier lot, identified as W4105. EAK Distribution recalled Home Grown green sprouting broccoli seeds on Oct. 2 after being notified of the lot recall and its outbreak connection. On Oct. 7, Eden Brothers recalled calabrese broccoli seeds in packets and one-ounce and one-pound sizes, citing lots 1022067 and 1022068 and supplier lot W4105. The source report does not specify which supplier lot is associated with the Gardeners Basics product.
Seed Recalls Reach More Retail Channels
The recall affects a product sold through several large online marketplaces as well as specialist and direct-to-consumer shops, making the product identifiers useful to shoppers who may have bought seeds outside a grocery store. Sprouting seeds are intended to be grown for food, and the investigation has linked contaminated seeds to the outbreak strain. Consumers who have the named product should not use it while they check the recall information.
The reported case count may not represent everyone who became ill. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says outbreak counts can miss people who do not seek care or are not tested specifically for Salmonella. The source report cites an estimate that for every confirmed Salmonella outbreak patient, 29 cases go undetected; that is an estimate, not a count of additional illnesses in this outbreak.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, often beginning 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. Anyone who develops symptoms after eating sprouts should contact a health care provider and mention the possible exposure, since testing may be needed to diagnose the infection.
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The FDA update dated Sept. 24 cited in the report said 26 of 27 interviewed patients had eaten sprouts or microgreens. That finding is based on interviews and does not by itself establish the source of every patient’s infection. The FDA’s seed investigation provides a separate line of evidence: a supplier seed sample tested positive and matched the outbreak strain by whole genome sequencing.
The report distinguishes this Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak from a separate investigation involving shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts. It also describes an investigation of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts in Moyie Springs, Idaho. Washington investigators found the same Salmonella strain in the company’s alfalfa sprouts, while Montana officials had earlier collected a broccoli sprouts sample from the company that tested positive for the outbreak strain. Evergreen initiated a broccoli sprouts recall on Sept. 4, according to the report. These findings concern sprouts as well as seed products, but they do not make the separate investigations one outbreak.
“The seed sample tested positive and whole genome sequencing analysis showed that it matched the same Salmonella Bovismorbificans strain that is making people sick in this outbreak.”
— FDA investigation, as described in the Food Safety News report
Supplier Identity and Product Scope
The FDA has not publicly named the seed supplier, despite multiple companies recalling products after the supplier notified customers of the implicated lot. The source report does not explain why the agency has withheld the name or say when it might release it. It is also not clear from the report whether all Gardeners Basics bags in the recall carry supplier lot W4105 or how many bags were sold.
The reported 32 illnesses, three hospitalizations and no deaths are the figures available in the source material; they may change as investigations continue. The report does not provide a newer illness tally or a final determination on how the contaminated seed entered distribution. Nor does it establish that every illness associated with the outbreak came from one recalled brand.
Watch for Updated Recall Notices
Consumers can compare any Gardeners Basics seed package they own with the recalled product’s name, one-pound size and UPC 848137042889, and follow recall instructions before discarding or returning it. People who have eaten sprouts and develop diarrhea, cramps or fever should contact a health professional and mention the possible Salmonella exposure.
Further updates may clarify the supplier’s identity, the scope of the affected seed lot and whether the reported number of illnesses changes. The FDA and public health agencies are continuing to investigate; the source report does not give a date for a next update.
Key Questions
Which Gardeners Basics seeds were recalled?
The recall covers one-pound bags of Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds in white-and-green resealable pouches. The UPC is 848137042889, and the package is marked “Packed for 2027.”
Where were the recalled seeds sold?
The seeds were distributed nationwide and sold through Amazon, gardenersbasics.com, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy, according to the source report.
How many people have been reported sick?
At least 32 people in six states have been reported ill, with three hospitalizations and no deaths. The last reported symptom onset was Sept. 3. The count could change as investigators receive more information.
Has the FDA identified the seed supplier?
No. The FDA has not publicly named the supplier, although its seed sample tested positive for Salmonella Bovismorbificans matching the outbreak strain and the supplier recalled the implicated lot.
What should someone do if they feel sick after eating sprouts?
Contact a health care provider and mention the possible Salmonella exposure. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, often starting 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. A health professional can advise whether testing is appropriate.
Source: rss
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