Clover sprouts likely source of E. Coli illness

An outbreak of E. coli cases led state health officials to warn consumers not to eat raw clover sprouts from an Idaho producer. The sprouts under investigation are linked to seven confirmed and three probable cases of E. coli O121 illnesses in Washington and Idaho. Five of those patients were hospitalized; there have been no deaths.

Five cases were reported in Spokane County, two in King County, and three in Kootenai County, Idaho. Results from initial investigations indicate a strong link to eating raw clover spouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Idaho. Sprouts were eaten in sand...