Mung bean sprouts from Wholesome Soy Products, Inc., have been recalled after being implicated in five patients infected with Listeria monocytogenes, two of whom have died.

Earlier in the year a routine FDA inspection of the Illinois based facility found L. monocytogenes in 25 environmental swabs and reported 12 inspectional observations, citing the firm for numerous unsanitary conditions and poor equipment maintenance.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the Listeria strains isolated from the mung bean sprouts produced by Wholesome Soy Products, Inc. and from environmental isolates collected at the production facility were found to be highly related to sequences of Listeria strains isolated from the five people who were hospitalized.

The WGS findings, together with sprout consumption history from the two patients who were interviewed and inspection findings at the firm, suggest that these illnesses could be related to products from Wholesome Soy Products, Inc.