American retailer Kroger has decided that it will no longer sell sprouts due to its potential food safety risk and to protect the consumers from food-borne illnesses.
The supply of sprouts into distribution centers and stores will be discontinued on 23 October 2012 by Kroger.
Kroger food safety vice president Payton Pruett remarked that after a science-based review, they have decided to voluntarily discontinue the sale of fresh sprouts.
"Testing and sanitizing by the growers and safe food handling by the consumer are the critical steps to protect against food-borne illness. Sprouts present a unique challenge because pathogens may reside inside of the seeds where they cannot be reached by the currently available processing interventions," added Pruett.
Kroger operates 2,425 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 788 convenience stores, 342 fine jewelry stores, 1,124 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the US.
