German Company Vitalsprossen Recalls Organic Sprouts Over EHEC Contamination
Vitalsprossen recalls organic sprouts across northern Germany due to STEC/EHEC contamination detected in internal testing, with no linked illnesses reported yet.
- • Vitalsprossen recalls organic sprouts due to positive STEC/EHEC test results.
- • Affected products include Bio-Mungobohnen-Sprossen, Bio-Vitaspross-Mischung, and Bio-Gourmet-Mischung with specified lot numbers and consumption dates.
- • Products were distributed in northern Germany including Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein.
- • No reported illnesses linked to the recalled sprouts so far, despite a prior EHEC outbreak in August.
Key details
The German company Vitalsprossen, based in Stelle in the Harburg district, has voluntarily recalled several batches of its organic sprouts after detecting a contamination of STEC/EHEC bacteria during an internal quality inspection. The affected products include Bio-Mungobohnen-Sprossen (125 grams), Bio-Vitaspross-Mischung (100 and 500 grams), and Bio-Gourmet-Mischung (125 grams) with consumption dates spanning October 6, 8, 10, and 13, 2025, covering lot numbers 16298, 16516, 21025, and 16697. These contaminated sprouts were sold across multiple northern German regions, including Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein.
Authorities in the Harburg district warned that consumption of these products could cause severe gastrointestinal illness, although as of now, no cases of illness linked specifically to these sprouts have been reported. The recall comes amid ongoing concerns after a prior EHEC outbreak in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in August, which led to multiple infections with the contamination source still unidentified.
The company's prompt action follows an increased vigilance in monitoring and quality control to prevent further health risks related to EHEC contamination, a serious bacterial infection known for causing severe foodborne illnesses. The Harburg district highlighted the importance of consumers checking for the recalled batches and advised against consuming any affected products.