Recalled Cucumbers Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in 31 States, Over 400 Fall Ill

Further issues regarding contaminated cucumbers have resulted in an expanded salmonella outbreak for the vegetable. Cucumbers have now been recalled in 31 states as over 400 consumers fall ill.

Since June, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been aware of a salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers produced in Florida. Its latest update shares that hundreds of people in 31 states and the District of Columbia reported symptoms after eating affected cucumbers. Right now, 125 of those people have been hospitalized and 449 in total have fallen ill. No deaths have been reported.

The CDC reports, “The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”

Local and state officials continue to interview those who have fallen ill about the foods they ate before their symptoms began. The report reveals that of the 188 people interviewed, 129 (69%) reported eating cucumbers.

Recalled cucumbers in salmonella outbreak behind 449 illnesses, CDC says https://t.co/AMXmIg0Xe3

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 15, 2024

Ongoing data reveals the cucumbers were sourced from Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Thomas Produce Company of Boca Raton, Florida. However, the CDC claims that while these particular growers were named, they may not be the only sources of vegetable contamination connected to the salmonella outbreak.

In a separate release, the FDA shared that the cucumbers were treated with canal water at Thomas Produce Company that reportedly contained the Salmonella strain. Additionally, strains of Salmonella were also found in water and soil samples at both Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.

According to the FDA, “Bedner Growers, Inc.’s and Thomas Produce Company’s cucumber growing and harvesting season is over. There is no product from these farms on the market and likely no ongoing risk to the public.”

However, NBC News reports that Thomas Produce Company denies its products were linked to the Salmonella outbreak. The company said in a statement, “Our farm did not have a positive test result for Salmonella Braenderup or any other strain of Salmonella on any of our packed products. Our packing facility was also tested, by the FDA, and we received no positive test results for any strains of Salmonella.”

The statement continued, “At Thomas Produce Company, our commitment to food safety is our top priority. We continuously monitor our production processes, follow best practices and comply with all regulatory requirements.”