An audit in Italy has found sprouted seeds being produced by unregistered companies and a lack of enforcement by authorities.

A Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Sante) audit in May and June 2025 evaluated the system of official controls on the microbial safety of food of non-animal origin, including seeds intended for sprouting and sprouts.

At the time of the assessment, a national monitoring plan to manage microbiological risks in fresh fruit and vegetable products at primary production was being developed.