Sprout growers are required to test for E. coli O157

H7 and Salmonella in Spent Sprout Irrigation Water or Sprouts Samples from every batch sprout products, according to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.  The method of analysis was released in October 2015- “Testing Methodologies for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella species in Spent Sprout Irrigation Water (or Sprouts)” (Version 1). FDA has recently determined that specific methods are scientifically valid and at least equivalent to the published method in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity in detecting E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. The following link lists these methods:

https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/UCM622917.pdf

Please inform your testing laboratory if needed.

One more piece of information to share –

If you re-use containers at your sprout operation, the article entitled as “Minimizing Risk in Multiple-Use Containers” would be helpful.