Minneapolis sprouts company faces lawsuit after salmonella, E. coli outbreak sickens 55
Impending lawsuits over salmonella outbreak
Two Wisconsin consumers plan to sue as one food safety attorney is questioning how a south Minneapolis sprouts distributor was still operating after federal inspectors found "serious violations" less than two years before a nationwide salmonella and E. coli outbreak. FOX 9’s Mike Manzoni has the latest.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A food safety attorney is questioning how a south Minneapolis sprouts distributor was still operating after federal inspectors found "serious violations" less than two years before a nationwide salmonella and E. coli outbreak.
FDA warning letter over "serious violations"
What we know:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it has traced at least 55 illnesses across 15 states, including Minnesota, to Everything Sprouts, on Minnehaha Avenue in south Minneapolis.
The backstory:
In March 2025, the agency sent the company a warning letter over what it called "serious violations" of standards, including a leaking roof and dirty surfaces where the distributor kept its sprouts.
The company issued a voluntary recall of certain batches of its alfalfa sprouts late Friday. The sprouts were sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands.
In a letter announcing the recall, the company said it has tested its sprouts since the outbreak started and has not found any issues.
Sprouts distributor is "on the hook": Attorney
What they're saying:
Food safety attorney Bill Marler, who represents the two Wisconsin consumers who both came down with salmonella – one of whom was hospitalized – said the company bears responsibility.
"The sprout grower is definitely on the hook. They're a manufacturer of the product, and as you've seen from the warning letters and the inspection reports, you know, this is a facility that has had some issues," he told FOX 9. "It's really kind of almost even a question as to why they were operating in 2026."
Marler also put some of the blame on federal inspectors.
"The FDA sort of dropped the ball here," he said.
The other side:
FOX 9 has reached out to Everything Sprouts multiple times since Friday but has not heard back.