what is sprouts?

[NewHopeR]

Context:

Once this new drug application had been discovered, intravenous eculizumab therapy was used to save the lives of a large number of people. "Our report was published during the massive E. coli outbreak in May and June in Germany, which allowed us to break the news and alert physicians," explains Dr. Lapeyraque. During the outbreak, about 4,000 people in Europe fell ill by eating contaminated sprouts.

 

[5jj]

What are sprouts?

Brussels-Sprouts can reduce the risk of various cancers!

 

[NewHopeR]

Thanks.

But I suspect sprouts can also be:

 

[5jj]

In BrE, the word 'sprouts' normally means 'brussels sprouts', unless 'bean sprouts' has already been used.

 

[NewHopeR]

In BrE, the word 'sprouts' normally means 'brussels sprouts', unless 'bean sprouts' has already been used.

Cool.

 

[emsr2d2]

Interestingly, in the healthfood shop where I work, our customers and staff simply refer to beansprouts as sprouts. At Christmas, we specifically stocked "Brussels sprouts". The sprouts we stock are the type shown by NewHopeR and we have alfalfa sprouts, alfalfa and broccoli, alfalfa and radish, mung ...

It has taken me some time to get used to because previously if someone said to me "Do you have any sprouts?", I would immediately think of Brussels sprouts. Perhaps location is important. The people who shop in my shop are far more likely to be looking for the beansprout type item.

With the story quoted by the OP, it was certainly the beansprout type which was apparently to blame for the E. Coli outbreak.

 

[5jj]

With the story quoted by the OP, it was certainly the beansprout type which was apparently to blame for the E. Coli outbreak.

My feeling that the word 'certainly' is justified only by the later mention of alfala sprouts. Had it not [STRIKE]bean[/STRIKE] been for that, this speaker of BrE would have assumed (wrongly, it seems) that brussels sprouts were being referred to,

Novel use of drug saves children from deadly E. coli bacteria disease - UdeMNouvelles

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry, I should have made it clear that I only said "certainly" because it was a very big story in the healthfood world at the time and a lot of our customers stopped buying our sprout products for fear that they might be contaminated. We received a lot of messages from our suppliers confirming that the sprouts they provide did not come from the affected areas and were perfectly safe. So my "certainly" came simply from my own knowledge of the story and the type of sprouts which were involved.

 

[5jj]

... it was a very big story in the healthfood world at the time

Strangely enough, It went unnoticed in the smoking alcoholics' pork-and-dumpling world. :-?

 

[riquecohen]

In the US, sprouts usually refers to alfalfa or beansprouts, but if you were looking for them in a market, you'd have to be specific. Brussels sprouts are always referred to by their complete name.

 

[SoothingDave]

I'm in the US, and if I heard "sprouts" I would think Brussels.

 

[riquecohen]

In the US, sprouts usually refers to alfalfa or beansprouts, but if you were looking for them in a market, you'd have to be specific. Brussels sprouts are always referred to by their complete name.

I'm in the US, and if I heard "sprouts" I would think Brussels.

It's interesting that regional differences exist even within a few hundred miles of each other. I clearly made too general a statement. I'll amend that to read "In New York..."

 

[Barb_D]

As 5jj says, context, context, context.

If you were in a sandwich shop, surely you would think bean spouts.
If you were talking about a side for dinner, you would think those little nasty cabbage balls.

Right?

(Perhaps you would characterize the other kind differently.)

 

[5jj]

I agree with Barb - apart from her use of the word 'nasty'. Properly prepared, they are a fine vegetable.

 

[BobSmith]

To me (mid-west US, EST) "sprouts" would never mean brussel sprouts, always beansprouts. In fact, it never dawned on me that brussel sprouts were sprouts!

Oh, and yuck to bean, yum to brussel

 

[emsr2d2]

Yum to both in my opinion provided that:

1) The beansprouts are very fresh and not at all slimy and are served raw
2) The Brussels sprouts are fresh and simply steamed for about 4 minutes leaving them crunchy and bright green. Never boiled!

I do find myself wondering why Brussels sprouts are called "sprouts" instead of "mini cabbages" or something.