Winn-Dixie Recalls Sprouts

Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has issued an immediate Class I recall of all Leasa Living Alfalfa Sprouts sold in the 6-ounce package with a UPC code of 7546555912. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the product may be contaminated with salmonella, which could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

To be on the safe side, Winn-Dixie also immediately pulled Miami-based Leasa's broccoli, gourmet, spicy and onion sprouts from all of the stores in its five-state footprint of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana:

The recalled sprouts were sold between Jan. 7, 2012, and Jan. 18, 2012, and have expirations dates of between Feb. 1, 2012, and March 15, 2012.

“While the mandatory recall involves only the Leasa Living Alfalfa Sprouts, for the safety of our guests, Winn-Dixie is taking extra precaution to immediately pull all potentially exposed Leasa branded sprouts from our shelves,” noted Mary Kellmanson, group VP of marketing at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Winn-Dixie, which operates about 480 retail grocery stores in the Southeast.

The grocer has received no reports of illness associated with consumption of the recalled product.

“We encourage guests in possession of any of the recalled items to immediately discard the product in a sealed garbage container,” added Kellmanson. “Guests who have purchased the product may visit their neighborhood Winn-Dixie to request a full refund, no questions asked.”

To receive the refund, customers need to present proof of purchase through a receipt or the product packaging label.