Kroger – the nation’s largest grocery retailer – stopped carrying sprouts in all stores under its corporate umbrella Monday. That means consumers will no longer find fresh sprouts at grocers such as City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less or Fred Meyer, among a slew of others.
But Kroger’s announcement came just two weeks after gourmet sandwich chain Jimmy John’s announced the impending return of sprouts to its menu on its Facebook page. The chain yanked sprouts from the menu last February after the ingredient connected its sandwiches to five foodborne illness outbreaks over the course of four years.
Dropping sprouts didn’t sit well with a vocal constituency of Jimmy John’s fanatics. They took to the company’s Facebook page earlier this year to plead for sprouts to return. Some complained in person at their local shop. Others said they’d boycott the chain until it brought sprouts back.







