Start with clean hands and clean equipment

Wash hands before handling seed, trays or harvested greens. Clean reusable trays, scissors, knives and food-contact surfaces between grows. If a recalled seed lot or contaminated product has touched a surface, FDA advises cleaning and sanitizing affected containers and surfaces.

Use seed from a trustworthy source

Seed can be a contamination source. FDA has investigated foodborne illness outbreaks linked to contaminated sprouting seed, including a 2026 investigation that involved broccoli sprouts and microgreens from an implicated broccoli seed lot. Do not use recalled seed.

Keep growing media moist, not waterlogged

Standing moisture and poor airflow create a harder environment to manage. Use drainage, monitor the tray and avoid leaving the root zone continuously saturated.

Harvest with clean tools

Use clean, sharp scissors or a knife and cut above the growing medium. Keep harvested greens away from dirty trays, used media and unclean surfaces.

Handle harvested greens like fresh produce

Keep harvested microgreens clean and cold. FDA’s general produce guidance emphasizes safe handling because fresh produce can become contaminated during growing, harvest, storage or preparation.

When in doubt, discard

If a tray has obvious mold growth, off odors, slime, or other signs that make you question its safety, a conservative discard decision is more appropriate than trying to rescue food for consumption.