Jimmy John’s Changing to Clover Sprouts

The owner of the Jimmy John's sandwich shop chain says his restaurants will be replacing alfalfa sprouts with easier-cleaned clover sprouts, effective immediately.

Chain owner John Liautaud said that, to the best of his knowledge, not one case of salmonella carried by alfalfa sprouts can be traced to one of his restaurants.

The Centers for Disease Control has been investigating a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 112 people over 18 states, including Illinois. The CDC says there is a probable link to alfalfa sprouts distributed by an Urbana company to Jimmy John's and other outlets.

Liautaud says he was making the change to clover sprouts because they are easier to clean than alfalfa sprouts.