Broccoli Sprouting Seeds Recalled for Salmonella

I keep a jar of sprouting seeds on my windowsill from spring through fall, so when a seed recall crosses my desk, I pay attention. This one mostly concerns sprout growers and distributors, since the seed was sold in 50-pound bags, but it’s worth knowing about if you sprout from bulk seed.

What’s being recalled

Wild West Seed Inc., based in Albany, Oregon, is recalling two broccoli sprouting seed products because of Salmonella contamination. The recall covers:

• Broccoli Seeds Green Sprouting Calabrese, lot #4105, sold in 50-pound bags
• Wild West Seeds Broccoli Waltham29 Seeds, lot #4475, sold in 50-pound bags

Almost 9,500 pounds of seed went out the door before the problem was caught. It was shipped to distributors in California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and as far as the United Kingdom. Wild West Seed notified its direct customers by letter, so this recall gets less attention than one announced with a press release.

Why this one actually matters

Raw sprouts are one of the few foods where “fresh and homegrown” doesn’t automatically mean safer. Seeds can carry bacteria on the hull itself, and the warm, humid conditions you need to sprout anything, the exact environment I use for my own jar, are also perfect for Salmonella to multiply.

What to do if you have these seeds

If you grow your own sprouts from bulk seed, or you run a small sprouting operation, check your bags for lot #4105 or #4475 from Wild West Seed. Don’t sprout or eat seeds from either lot. If you already have sprouts growing from this seed, toss the tray, not just the leftover dry seed.

Where this leaves your salad bowl

This is the kind of recall that makes me reach for crunch I trust instead. If you want that same fresh, raw texture without wondering where your seeds came from, my easy homemade salad recipe is all fresh vegetables you can see and wash yourself, no sprouting required.

Sources

• Food Safety News: Sprouting seeds recalled because of Salmonella contamination (October 23, 2026)