I do a lot of work with FDA and once saw staff from tree cringe at the mention of sprouts. I have not touched one since.

I dont think its unique to this area. I used to eat them too and they used to be everywhere, Giant, Whole Foods, etc. but with the e-coli outbreaks a few years ago i have definately seen them in stores less often. And i stopped eating them for the same reason.

Anonymous



Where does the bacteria come from? It just grows on or in the sprouts? It doesn't come from contamination from animal feces like with spinach?

To germinate the seeds, you soak them for a day in room temperature water, drain, rinse and repeat till you have spouts. The bacteria comes on the seeds and is in the air(and your container too if you are not very careful). It's a perfect way to grow things including bacteria, think warm and moist environment. When the seeds split there is plenty of food for the bacteria and other things to grow, most of them will not hurt you, but a few will. The commercially grown ones will have a chemical taste as they try to make the environment a little less nice for bacteria etc.

OP here and I have tried broccoli sprouts and they are just not the same. I hear about E. coli breakouts from certain types of lettuce and other veggies - doesn't mean I'm going to stop eating them but thanks PPs for the PSA. I will try Whole Foods - thank you!

Whole Foods has them but I never buy them anymore because of the contamination thing--love them on sandwiches too but my sister, who was my roommate at one point, got food poisoning from a salad bar salad that had sprouts on it. I just can't do it after seeing her go from both ends at once.

OP - you can try pea shoots or broccoli sprouts from whole foods. Not cheap - but a little goes a long way and is super yummy. They are only stocked in the spring / summer