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Gardeners Basics is recalling one-pound bags of broccoli sprouting seeds after the FDA linked a supplier’s seed lot to a Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak. At least 32 people in six states have been sickened, three hospitalized, and no deaths reported. The FDA has not publicly identified the supplier, whose implicated lot has prompted recalls by multiple sellers.
Gardeners Basics of Spanish Fork, Utah, has recalled one-pound bags of its Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds linked to a seed lot associated with a Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak, according to the recall report. At least 32 people in six states have been infected, with three hospitalizations and no deaths reported; the FDA has not publicly named the seed supplier.
The recalled product is labeled Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds. It comes in a white-and-green resealable pouch, weighs one pound, carries UPC 848137042889 and is marked “Packed for 2027.” The seeds were distributed nationwide and sold through Amazon, the Gardeners Basics website, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy. Consumers should check the product details on any bag they have, rather than relying only on the retailer or packaging color.
The outbreak count is at least 32 cases across Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Three people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The last reported symptom onset among outbreak patients was Sept. 3, according to the source report. That date does not establish that the investigation or risk has ended.
The FDA collected a seed sample from the supplier identified in the investigation. The sample tested positive for Salmonella, and whole genome sequencing found that the bacteria matched the outbreak strain, the report says. The supplier recalled the implicated lot and contacted customers, but the FDA has not released the supplier’s name. Several companies have since recalled products made with seed from the lot.
A Seed Lot Reaches Many Sellers
The recall matters because sprouting seeds can be bought under different brands and through numerous retailers, while the product’s supplier remains unnamed publicly. Consumers may not recognize the shared source across separate brand recalls, making the lot number and product description important clues when checking purchases.
The outbreak also shows why the case count may not capture every infection. The report says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects more people may have become ill than appear in official totals: some do not seek medical care, and others are not tested specifically for Salmonella. It 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. Infants, children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. The bacteria may not change a food’s smell, appearance or taste, so a normal-looking product cannot be used to judge whether it is safe.
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This is the latest reported recall connected to the supplier’s implicated seed lot. On Oct. 2, EAK Distribution of Casper, Wyoming, recalled Home Grown green sprouting broccoli seeds after the supplier notified the company about lot W4105 and its link to the outbreak. On Oct. 7, Eden Brothers LLC of Arden, North Carolina, recalled calabrese broccoli seeds sold in packets and one-ounce and one-pound sizes. The Eden Brothers lots were 1022067 and 1022068, with supplier lot W4105.
The source distinguishes this investigation from a separate outbreak involving Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts. It also reports a separate FDA investigation of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC in Moyie Springs, Idaho. Washington investigators found alfalfa sprouts—not seeds—contaminated with the outbreak strain. Evergreen Fresh Sprouts initiated a broccoli sprouts recall on Sept. 4 after Montana officials found Salmonella in a sample; sequencing reviewed by the FDA found the same strain as in this outbreak.
An FDA update dated Sept. 24 said that 26 of 27 interviewed patients reported eating sprouts or microgreens. That finding is based on interviews and does not by itself establish that every product eaten by those patients came from the same source.
“The FDA has not released the name of the seed supplier to the public, even though its seeds have been subject to recalls by several companies.”
— Food Safety News, reporting on the FDA investigation
Supplier Identity Still Withheld
The supplier’s name remains undisclosed in the source report, and the reason for withholding it is not given. The report also does not state how much of the implicated lot was distributed, whether all affected products have been accounted for, or whether additional brands will issue recalls.
The current confirmed outbreak total is at least 32 illnesses, but the full number is unknown. The last reported symptom onset was Sept. 3; officials may still identify cases later because illness reporting, testing and investigation take time. The relationship between the seed recalls and the separate findings involving sprout products at Evergreen Fresh Sprouts also should not be treated as proof that every product or business in that investigation shared the same route of contamination.
Further Recall and Case Updates
Consumers can compare any Gardeners Basics bag with the recall identifiers—Waltham 29, one pound, UPC 848137042889, “Packed for 2027”—and follow retailer and public-health notices for instructions on affected products. The source report does not specify the company’s refund or disposal process, so customers should consult the recall notice or seller for directions.
Public-health agencies may update the illness count, identify additional affected products or provide further information about the supplier as the investigation continues. Anyone who develops symptoms after eating sprouts should contact a health professional and mention the possible Salmonella exposure; diagnosis may require specific testing. People with severe or persistent symptoms, or those at higher risk of serious illness, should seek medical care promptly.
Key Questions
Which Gardeners Basics seeds are recalled?
The recall covers one-pound bags of Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds, in white-and-green resealable pouches, UPC 848137042889, marked “Packed for 2027.”
Where were the recalled seeds sold?
The seeds were distributed nationwide and sold through Amazon, the Gardeners Basics website, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy, according to the report.
How many people have been sickened?
At least 32 people in six states have been reported ill. Three were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The actual number may be higher, but the total is not confirmed.
Has the FDA named the seed supplier?
No. The report says the FDA has not publicly identified the supplier, although its implicated seed lot was recalled and has been connected to recalls by multiple companies.
What are common Salmonella symptoms?
Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, commonly starting 12 to 72 hours after exposure. People who become ill after eating sprouts should contact a health professional and mention possible Salmonella exposure.
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