Cucumbers Recalled Nationwide Over Salmonella Concerns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide recall of cucumbers distributed by SunFed Produce after receiving reports that the vegetables may be potentially contaminated with salmonella.

The cucumbers in question were distributed to more than two dozen states, CNN reported, as well as to a number of Canadian provinces. Potentially tainted cucumbers were distributed to Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The cucumbers were sold in stores between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26, according to the FDA. As of Nov. 26, 68 illnesses have been reported from 19 states. A number of photographs depicting the most common shipping boxes and PLU labels applied to the potentially tainted product have also been provided by the government agency.

Those who suspect they may have potentially tainted produce in their possession are advised to dispose of it immediately and to sanitize all surfaces that may have come into contact with said produce. If you are unsure as to whether or not your cucumbers could be tainted, the FDA advised immediately reaching out to your grocer.

SunFed Begins Its Own Investigation Into Salmonella-Tainted Cucumbers

In a statement shared by the FDA, SunFed President Craig Slate indicated that his company was taking immediate action to protect consumers and get to the bottom of the issue.

“As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately acted to protect consumers. We are working closely with authorities and the implicated ranch to determine the possible cause,” Slate said. “Here at SunFed, food safety and consumer health and wellness have been our priorities for more than 30 years. We require all of our growers to strictly comply with the FDA food safety requirements.”

The Second Cucumber Recall of 2024

This latest cucumber recall is the second one of the year in the U.S., with salmonella having been the culprit behind both.

According to The Hill, 162 people were left sickened in May — with 54 people having been hospitalized — after cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce were found to have been contaminated with salmonella.