Jimmy John's Salmonella Cases Caused by Alfalfa Sprouts?

Jimmy John's restaurant patrons in Illinois may have noticed that an alarming number of them came down with salmonella food poisoning. There are at least 46 individuals in the nine Illinois counties who have fallen ill from salmonella, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Many of the infected individuals have said that they ate Jimmy John's sprouts.

Results of the investigation by the FDA and CDC indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets, the CDC reports. The salmonella outbreak was linked to consumption of Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts which were sold to a variety of customers; including restaurants chains like Jimmy John's. As a result, Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois, announced a recall of specific batches of Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts. Consumers are now advised to avoid eating recalled Tiny Greens brand Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts.

The chain has stopped serving Jimmy John's sprouts in its sandwiches at all Illinois locations, according to the FDA. Sprouts are a known source of food-borne illness. There have been known outbreaks of food-borne illness from raw or slightly cooked sprouts since 1996. Consumers such as the elderly, young children, or anyone with a compromised immune system are advised to avoid raw sprouts.

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the salmonella bacteria. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and/or stomach cramps. The infection typically goes away in healthy patients after 3 to 7 days, but some patients may need to be hospitalized for severe diarrhea. The infection can be fatal in immune compromised patients.

There is currently a lawsuit filed against Jimmy John's and Tiny Greens in Illinois, according to the Marler Blog. Typically, in a food poisoning lawsuit, victims request compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in some situations also seek compensation related to emotional distress. In order for such plaintiffs to be successful, connecting the sickness to the source is key. For more general information on salmonella and food poisoning, please visit our Related Resources links.

Related Resources:

• FDA: Don't Eat Your Alfalfa Sprouts (FindLaw's Injured Blog)
• FDA Launches Investigation Into Jimmy Johns (WHAS 11)
• Types of Food Poisoning: Salmonella (FindLaw)