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It's believed that the seeds from which sprouts are derived are often the source. For example, some of the seeds may become contaminated by animals in the field or during post-harvest storage. Also, the use of animal manure in fields of alfalfa intended for non-human use may be a problem if seed is used for sprouting.

The ideal conditions provided by germinating seeds and beans-namely abundant nutrients in this phase of plant growth, high levels of moisture needed to produce sprouts, and heat generated from the sprouting process-help ensure the survival and growth of bacteria.

Following three 1998 foodborne disease outbreaks involving raw alfalfa sprouts, the FDA reaffirmed a warning that had been issued by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1997. The advisory urged people at high risk for foodborne illness-children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems-to avoid raw alfalfa sprouts until methods to improve the safety of sprouts can be identified and put in place. (From FDA Consumer magazine, (January-February 1999).

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