Health officials have identified the source of a salmonella outbreak. They believe it came from alfalfa sprouts grown by an Omaha company.

At this point, at least 27 people have confirmed cases or suspected cases of salmonella in Nebraska and Iowa. Two people were hospitalized.

90% of the people who got sick ate alfalfa sprouts. That's a high number health officials say because only 5-10% of the population actually eats them.

The Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating CW Sprouts which is located near 102nd and L Streets in Omaha. Its alfalfa sprouts are marketed under the name Sun Sprouts.

Company officials issued this statement: "Exercising an abundance of caution Sun Sprouts has voluntarily halted production of all affected products and initiated a recall of all such products in the market place."

The seeds at the facility have yet to test positive. State officials called the move by the company to voluntarily recall 'extraordinary.'

"It's difficult to say whether the outbreak has ended." says Dr. Joann Schaefer with the Nebraska Health Department. "I don't want to send a wholesale scare to the public to avoid sprouts -- alfalfa sprouts because i don't think it's warranted. However, there is a small risk out there. We do have an outbreak and we want to get to the bottom of it."

We're always supposed to make sure we wash our fruits and vegetables before we eat them. But health officials say that probably wouldn't have made a difference. In this case, salmonella was on the inside of the sprout and all the washing in the world wouldn't have helped.

So with grocery stores pulling the alfalfa sprouts from the shelves and distributors contacting restaurants who use the product, is the threat over? "It's possible that all of them have been consumed and we're at the end," says Schaefer. "But we obviously can't say that yet since we had a case on February 23. We wonder if we have any more cases."

The first cases was reported February 2.

Most cases of salmonella are caused by undercooked eggs and chicken not vegetables like alfalfa sprouts.

The Food and Drug Administration is in charge of making sure all the restaurants that use alfalfa sprouts under the name 'Sun Sprouts' aren't used anymore.

At least two local restaurants and a grocer have pulled the specific alfalfa sprouts.

There are so many unanswered questions -- the key being how the alfalfa seeds became contaminated with animal feces -- which is the most common way to get salmonella. Only then will be able to understand how to keep this from happening again.

CW Sprouts has halted production and voluntarily recalled the product. If you have any sprouts from CW Sprouts, don't use them.

Most people infected with salmonella develop fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after exposure.

Although illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment, severe illness may occur in the very young, the elderly, pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems.

Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.