South Australians are being warned not to eat alfalfa sprouts produced by SA Sprouts after seven people were hospitalised with salmonella.
The company has been shut down and SA Health says people should throw out or return the product.
SA Health chief medical officer and chief public health officer Paddy Phillips said there had been 21 recent confirmed cases of the salmonella havana strain, including the seven hospital cases.
"We are advising anyone who has purchased the recalled SA Sprouts alfalfa sprouts products to return them to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw them away," Professor Phillips said.
"We also want to alert cafes and restaurants to check their suppliers and not serve any SA Sprouts alfalfa sprout products until further notice."
Professor Phillips said SA Sprouts had been ordered to stop production of alfalfa sprouts until further notice.
"We had an inkling that it was alfalfa sprouts and so we went to the suppliers and in particular SA Sprouts and today we had absolute confirmation that their alfalfa sprouts are contaminated with salmonella havana," he said.
"… In cases of salmonella, a common food source is not often identified, however a joint investigation between SA Health, local government and Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has linked these cases to SA Sprouts alfalfa sprouts.
"We are working closely with the producer and suppliers while we continue to investigate."
Product sold at several stores
SA Sprouts products are sold at Drakes Foodland, IGA and greengrocers.
Products included in the recall are alfalfa (125g and 200g tubs, 1kg bags), green alfalfa (125g tubs), alfalfa and radish (125g tubs), alfalfa and onion (125g tubs), alfalfa and mustard (125g tubs), alfalfa and Chinese cabbage (125g tubs), alfalfa and garlic (125g tubs), salad mix (175g tubs) and gourmet sprouts (100g trio pack with alfalfa, snow pea and small sprouted bean).
The same Mile End-based company was subject to a recalls of alfalfa, snow pea and mung bean sprouts in 2012 after E. Coli contamination.
People can experience symptoms of salmonella infection between six and 72 hours after exposure and symptoms usually last for three to seven days.
Symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, stomach cramps and loss of appetite.
In a statement, John Pandelis from SA Sprouts said the company's "overwhelming concern" was for the people who have fallen sick.
"We have been devastated to hear that a number of people have been hospitalised and others made unwell, after consuming alfalfa sprouts grown by our company," he said.
"In 28 years of growing our product, we have never had a problem like this. We have currently stopped production of the product.
"We are presently working very closely with SA Health and PIRSA to try and determine the cause of the contamination."
