Nationwide Food Alert: Second Major Sprout Recall Issued
Australian consumers are facing a second major food recall in just three days, with health authorities issuing urgent warnings over sprouts contaminated with salmonella. The latest recall involves eight varieties from Flowerdale Farm, sold exclusively in Victorian fruit and vegetable shops, following a similar recall from Parilla Fresh on Saturday.
Affected Products and Urgent Action Required
Flowerdale Farm recalled the following products on Monday night: Alfalfa Salad Sprouts, Plain Alfalfa Sprouts, Alfalfa Radish Sprouts, Alfalfa Broccoli Sprouts, Alfalfa Garlic Sprouts, Alfalfa Trio Sprouts, Alfalfa Onion Sprouts (all 120g), and the 125-gram Gourmet Sprouts. Consumers are warned not to eat any of these products with use-by dates up to and including November 20, 2025. They should be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.
This follows the recall of Parilla Fresh sprouts, which were sold in major supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths, IGA, and independent grocers across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory, ACT, and South Australia. The affected Parilla Fresh products, all in 125g containers with the same November 20 use-by date, include:
- Aussie Sprouts Alfalfa Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Alfalfa Onion & Garlic Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Alfalfa Radish Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Salad Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Alfalfa & Broccoli Sprouts 125g
- Hugo’s Trio and Sprouts Selection 125g
Health Impacts and National Response
The recalls come amid a joint investigation into a spike in cases of an unusual strain of salmonella. To date, at least 44 people nationwide have been infected. The cases are distributed as follows: 18 in NSW, 15 in Queensland, 9 in Victoria, and 2 in South Australia.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning typically appear within six to 72 hours and can include headache, fever, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. While most healthy individuals recover within a week with adequate rest and fluids, the infection poses a serious risk to infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, who may require antibiotics or even hospitalisation.
Health authorities, including the NSW Department of Primary Industries, are continuing their investigation. Anyone experiencing prolonged or severe symptoms is strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention. For non-urgent health advice, the public can contact healthdirect or speak with their GP or pharmacist.
