Cucumbers Recalled Over Salmonella
: What You Need To Know
Following an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two recent outbreaks of salmonella across the U.S. have been linked to a cucumber recall. This recall was instituted when a Florida distributor of fruit and vegetables was alerted that one of their cucumbers had tested positive for salmonella.
The good news is that this cucumber recall has now finished and all cucumbers that were part of it have been removed from retail outlets. This guide will explain the situation in more detail and offer advice on what to do if you bought a cucumber that may have been part of this group.
Jump to Section
- Which Cucumbers Are Recalled?
- Why Are These Cucumbers Being Recalled?
- What To Do if You Have a Product That Was Recalled
Which Cucumbers Are Recalled?
The recall on cucumbers in 2024 is connected to products from two growers used by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc., a Florida distributor of fruit and vegetables. At the time of writing, the cucumber recall has resulted in the affected cucumbers being removed from retail shelves.
However, customers may still have the products in their kitchen if purchased before the recall was initiated. Other cucumbers sold by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc., including English and mini cucumbers, are unaffected.
What Stores Sold the Recalled Cucumbers?
Cucumbers from Fresh Start Produce Inc. that were shipped to retail outlets, wholesalers and food service distribution centers have been recalled in the District of Columbia and over 30 states, including Alabama, New York, Ohio and South Carolina.
The cucumbers were sold at big box stores, including Walmart. All of these cucumbers have been recalled over salmonella concerns. The following states have recorded illnesses occurring due to the salmonella outbreak linked to these cucumbers:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Why Are These Cucumbers Being Recalled?
On June 1st, 2024, a statement published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. had started a cucumber recall on items shipped to retail and food service distributors and wholesalers in 14 states. These products are then thought to have been distributed to retailers in other states, with the recall being linked to 31 states and the District of Columbia.
The recall on cucumbers in 2024 was prompted when the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture alerted Fresh Start that one of their cucumbers had tested positive for salmonella. Fresh Start distributes cucumbers from several different suppliers but it’s thought that the cucumbers recalled over salmonella came from two particular growers, Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce, both based in Florida. There are no cucumbers from either of these growers remaining in stores.
At the same time as this cucumber recall was happening, there have been two reported outbreaks of salmonella across the country. The first affected 162 people across 25 states, who had been infected with the strain Salmonella Africana. When asked, 72% of those affected reported that they had eaten cucumbers. The second suspected outbreak was caused by Salmonella Braenderup, a different strain from the above. The FDA has reported that 158 people were affected in 23 states.
The CDC has now released a cucumber recall update as part of its official report and has confirmed that the growers mentioned were likely sources of the Salmonella Braenderup strain. Testing found the bacteria in untreated canal water at both sites. However, at the moment, the FDA has reported that it’s not linking all cases in the salmonella outbreaks to products that were part of this cucumber recall.
How Many People Have Been Affected?
At the time of publication, the CDC reports that 551 people have been affected by the two distinct forms of salmonella bacteria leading to 155 hospitalizations. Not all patients have been tested so it’s possible that other infections may have been caused by different salmonella strains.
The CDC estimates that the exact number of people suffering from salmonella due to the products in this cucumber recall may be higher as most people will recover without any medical intervention.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be found in fruit, vegetables and animal products, including meat, eggs, cheese and milk. It can also be found in water and soil. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning, including stomach cramps, nausea, fever and diarrhea usually develop between six hours and six days after infection and last for around a week. Some people may experience more severe symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue and rashes.
Most people recover without any medical care and suffer no long-term side effects. Children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk of severe issues occuring due to salmonella.
There are approximately 1.35 million salmonella infections each year in America. Although, as mentioned above, the true number is likely to be higher as many people don’t seek medical support. As with this cucumber recall, some outbreaks of salmonella may have links to a specific food product.
Food Safety Tips
Food is the most common cause of salmonella infections but good kitchen hygiene can help to prevent and reduce possible contamination. If a product is ever part of a recall, dispose of it immediately. If not, the following steps can lessen the chance of cross-contamination:
- Thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables under running water before eating or cooking.
- Separate food that won’t be cooked from raw meat, poultry and seafood.
- Wash hands and cooking equipment that has touched raw meat or seafood and unwashed fruit or vegetables.
- Refrigerate perishable food within two hours of buying. If the temperature outside exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit, this time should be reduced to one hour.
What To Do if You Have a Product That Was Recalled
If you think you may have eaten one of the products that were part of this cucumber recall, there’s no need to take any action. If you start to feel unwell, you should contact your doctor to report your symptoms and receive medical care but there’s no requirement to take antibiotics or other medicine preemptively. Further information on the outbreak and cucumber recall updates are available on the FDA website.
None of the fruits included in this cucumber recall are still in stores or available to buy. However, if you bought cucumbers previously and still have them in your kitchen, for example, if you decided to freeze cucumbers, you can return the products to the store for a refund or dispose of them. If you would like any further information, you can contact Fresh Start Produce Inc. at 1-888-364-2993 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EDT Monday to Friday.
To summarize, cucumbers have been recalled due to salmonella concerns following outbreaks in a number of states. All items included in this cucumber recall have been removed from store shelves, meaning there’s no need to worry about enjoying your favorite salads or cucumber recipes if you’ve purchased cucumbers quite recently.
If you could possibly have cucumbers affected by the recall still in your kitchen, dispose of them or take them to the store you purchased them at for a refund. The CDC is continuing its investigations into the causes of the outbreaks and will release cucumber recall updates as they find out more.
The majority of people infected with salmonella recover without any medical intervention but, if you experience symptoms, you should consult your healthcare provider.
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