---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 C.F.R. § 112.144"
title: "21"
number: "112.144"
heading: "What testing must I do during growing, harvesting, packing, and holding sprouts?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/21/112.144"
---

# §112.144. What testing must I do during growing, harvesting, packing, and holding sprouts?


All of the following testing must be done during growing, harvesting, packing, and holding sprouts:

- (a) You must test the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding environment for Listeria species or L. monocytogenes in accordance with the requirements of [§ 112.145](/cfr/21/112.145.md).
- (b) You must either:
  - (1) **Test spent sprout irrigation water from each production batch of sprouts for <I>E.** coli O157:H7, Salmonella species, and any pathogens meeting the criteria in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, in accordance with the requirements of [§ 112.147](/cfr/21/112.147.md); or
  - (2) If testing spent sprout irrigation water is not practicable (for example, soil-grown sprouts harvested with roots or for hydroponically grown sprouts that use very little water), test each production batch of sprouts at the in-process stage (i.e., while sprouts are still growing) for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella species, and any pathogens meeting the criteria in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section, in accordance with the requirements of [§ 112.147](/cfr/21/112.147.md).
- (c) **In addition to <I>E.** coli O157:H7 and Salmonella species, you must conduct tests as provided in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section for additional pathogens when the following conditions are met:
  - (1) Testing for the pathogen is reasonably necessary to minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death from use of, or exposure to, sprouts; and
  - (2) A scientifically valid test method for the pathogen is available to detect the pathogen in spent sprout irrigation water (or sprouts).

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 342, 350h, 371; 42 U.S.C. 243, 264, 271.

### Source

Source: 80 FR 74547, Nov. 27, 2015, unless otherwise noted.