Additional Coverage:
Cucumber Recall Issued Due to Salmonella Concerns
The FDA announced a recall of cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, supplied by Bedner Growers, due to potential Salmonella Montevideo contamination. The cucumbers, distributed since April 29th, have reached restaurants, wholesalers, retailers, and distribution centers nationwide.
They may have been sold individually or in smaller packages, possibly unlabeled or with labels that don’t match the recall information. Distributors, restaurants, and retailers should check for cucumbers labeled as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains.”
The contamination was discovered during an FDA follow-up inspection related to a previous Salmonella outbreak linked to Bedner Growers. A sample tested positive for Salmonella Montevideo and matched samples from individuals reporting illness.
Salmonella can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, with symptoms appearing within six hours to six days after infection and lasting up to a week. Children under five, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe infections. The CDC identifies Salmonella as a leading cause of foodborne illness.
As of Friday, 26 people across 15 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) have reported illness, with nine hospitalizations. Interviews revealed that 11 out of 13 individuals who fell ill had consumed cucumbers.
Fresh Start Produce Sales is working with Bedner Growers on the recall and is actively contacting distributors to ensure consumer notification. The FDA urges anyone who may have purchased these cucumbers to discard them immediately and sanitize any surfaces they may have touched.
If unsure, consumers should contact their suppliers or err on the side of caution by discarding the cucumbers and sanitizing storage areas. The FDA investigation is ongoing.