Kroger Halts Sale of Sprouts

Supermarket operator Kroger (NYS: KR) has stopped selling fresh sprouts, citing "potential food safety risk."

"Sprouts present a unique [food safety] challenge because pathogens may reside inside of the seeds where they cannot be reached by the currently available processing interventions," said Kroger in a press release. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Kroger Family of Stores will no longer sell fresh sprouts or procure other foods that are produced on the same equipment as sprouts."

Kroger has 2,400 stores, in 31 states. Wal-Mart (NYS: WMT) stopped selling sprouts in 2010.

Since 1973, at least 40 outbreaks of foodborne illness have been linked to sprouts. There have been at least 30 since 1996.

The article Kroger Halts Sale of Sprouts originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Rich Smith has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Wal-Mart Stores. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.