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Gardeners Basics is recalling one-pound bags of Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds distributed nationwide, citing a multistate Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak. At least 32 people in six states have become ill, and the FDA says a supplier seed sample matched the outbreak strain; the agency has not publicly named the supplier.
Gardeners Basics is recalling one-pound bags of its Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seeds after the product was linked to a multistate Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak that has sickened at least 32 people in six states. The FDA says a seed sample from the supplier identified in the investigation tested positive for the outbreak strain, but the agency has not publicly identified the supplier.
The recalled product is labeled Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds, comes in a white-and-green resealable pouch, weighs one pound and carries UPC 848137042889. The bags are marked “Packed for 2027.” The company distributed the seeds nationwide and sold them through Amazon, its website, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy, according to the report.
The outbreak has sickened at least 32 people across Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Three people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The last reported symptom onset among outbreak patients was Sept. 3. These are confirmed case figures; public health officials say the true number of infections may be higher.
According to the FDA’s investigation, a sample of seeds collected from the supplier tested positive for Salmonella. Whole genome sequencing found that the bacteria matched the strain linked to the illnesses. The supplier recalled the implicated seed lot and notified customers, the report says, after sprouting seeds were recalled over potential contamination. Several companies have since recalled products made with that lot.
A Seed Lot Reaches Multiple Sellers
The recall matters because sprouting seeds can be sold under different brands, making a supplier-level problem relevant to customers who may not recognize the same lot across products. The FDA-linked supplier lot number, W4105, was cited in earlier recalls, while the latest Gardeners Basics notice adds another branded product distributed through a wide range of online retailers.
Consumers who bought the recalled bags should check the product name, package size and UPC against the recall notice and avoid using the seeds. The report does not provide instructions for refunds or disposal, so customers should consult the company or retailer’s current recall notice. Anyone who has eaten sprouts and develops symptoms should contact a health professional and mention the possible exposure.
Salmonella-contaminated food may look and smell normal. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, often beginning 12 to 72 hours after exposure. Infants, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. These general health details do not establish that any particular consumer has been exposed.
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Earlier Recalls Cite Lot W4105
The Gardeners Basics recall follows two earlier notices involving broccoli seeds. On Oct. 2, EAK Distribution of Casper, Wyoming, recalled Home Grown green sprouting broccoli seeds after the company was notified that supplier lot W4105 was being recalled and linked to the outbreak. On Oct. 7, Eden Brothers of Arden, North Carolina, recalled calabrese broccoli seeds sold in packets and in one-ounce and one-pound sizes. Its affected lots were 1022067 and 1022068, and the supplier lot was also W4105.
The seed investigation is separate from another outbreak involving Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts, according to the report. The FDA is also investigating Evergreen Fresh Sprouts of Moyie Springs, Idaho, after Washington investigators found alfalfa sprouts contaminated with the same Salmonella strain. The report also says Evergreen initiated a broccoli sprouts recall on Sept. 4 after Montana officials found Salmonella in a sample; sequencing reviewed by the FDA matched the outbreak strain. Seeds and finished sprouts are distinct products, and the investigation includes findings involving both.
In an FDA update dated Sept. 24, 26 of 27 interviewed patients said they had eaten sprouts or microgreens. The report cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as warning that official counts can miss infections because some people do not seek care or are not tested. It says there may be many more illnesses than the confirmed count, but the number of unreported cases is not established.
“The supplier seed sample tested positive, and whole genome sequencing showed it matched the Salmonella Bovismorbificans strain linked to illnesses in the outbreak.”
— The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as described in its investigation update
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Supplier Identity Still Withheld
The FDA has not publicly named the seed supplier, despite the supplier’s seed lot being linked to the outbreak and several companies issuing recalls. The available report does not explain why the agency has withheld the name or say when it may release it.
It is also unclear whether additional brands or products contain the implicated lot, whether the recall will expand, and how many people have become ill beyond the 32 confirmed cases. The latest confirmed case count may change as investigations and testing continue. A positive finding in a seed or sprout sample supports the investigation but does not, by itself, identify every exposure or explain how contamination occurred.
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Recall Checks and Case Updates
Consumers can compare any Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 broccoli sprouting seed package with the recalled product details, including the one-pound size and UPC 848137042889, and follow instructions from the company or retailer. People who develop symptoms after eating sprouts should seek medical advice and tell clinicians about the possible food exposure; testing may be needed to diagnose Salmonella infection.
Public health agencies are continuing to investigate the outbreak and monitor reported illnesses and product testing. Further updates may clarify the supplier’s identity, identify other affected products or revise the case count. The source material does not give a date for the next FDA update or say when the investigation is expected to conclude.
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Key Questions
Which Gardeners Basics seeds were recalled?
The recall covers Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds in one-pound white-and-green resealable pouches, marked “Packed for 2027,” with UPC 848137042889.
Where were the recalled seeds sold?
The report says the seeds were distributed nationwide and sold on Amazon, gardenersbasics.com, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy.
How many people are confirmed ill?
At least 32 people in six states have been reported sick. Three were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Officials say the actual number of infections may be higher.
Has the FDA named the seed supplier?
No. The report says the FDA has not publicly identified the supplier, although a sample from the supplier tested positive for the outbreak strain and the implicated lot prompted recalls.
What should someone do if they may have eaten the seeds?
Avoid using the recalled product and follow current instructions from the company or retailer. Anyone who develops diarrhea, abdominal cramps or fever after eating sprouts should contact a health professional and mention the possible Salmonella exposure.
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