Which specific group is strongly advised to avoid consuming raw alfalfa sprouts due to heightened risk?
Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or living with chronic illnesses.
Due to the persistent and inherent risk of bacterial contamination in raw sprouts, certain segments of the population whose immune defenses are already diminished face a significantly greater threat from potential pathogens like *Salmonella* or *E. coli*. This high-risk group includes several categories of vulnerable individuals. Among those strongly advised to avoid raw sprouts entirely are young children, the elderly, and pregnant individuals. Crucially, this advice also extends emphatically to anyone categorized as immunocompromised, which specifically encompasses people who are undergoing treatments like chemotherapy or those managing existing chronic illnesses that suppress immune function.
