Which groups are strongly urged by regulatory bodies to avoid consuming raw alfalfa sprouts entirely?

Young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised

Health and regulatory bodies issue specific cautionary guidance that strongly recommends that certain vulnerable demographic groups completely abstain from eating alfalfa sprouts in their raw form. This high level of caution is warranted because these populations face a significantly elevated risk of severe illness or complications should they contract an infection from pathogens like _E. coli_ or _Salmonella_. The groups identified as most vulnerable include young children, who have developing immune systems; the elderly, whose immune responses may be weaker; pregnant women; and anyone classified as having a compromised or weakened immune system due to illness or medical treatment. For these individuals, the inherent, non-trivial hazard presented by raw sprouts outweighs any perceived benefit of their consumption.