Imagine biting into a crisp, refreshing cucumber, only to find that this simple pleasure has become a health nightmare for hundreds nationwide. An alarming salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers swept through the United States this spring, sickening nearly 450 people.
Fresh Start Produce recalls cucumbers shipped to 14 states due to Salmonella contamination concerns; consumers advised to discard or return affected products. (Photo : Image via FDA)
Unraveling the Salmonella Outbreak in Cucumbers
NBC reported that untreated water is linked to the salmonella outbreak in cucumbers that sickened 450 people. Federal health authorities said Tuesday that untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers, Inc. in Boynton Beach, Florida, was seen with the strain of Salmonella Braenderup that sickened some people in the salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers this spring.
The salmonella strain discovered in the untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers matched the strain that caused some of the illnesses reported in over 30 states and Washington, DC. FDA officials also found another strain of salmonella in soil and water samples taken from the site.
Bedner Growers provided cucumbers to Fresh Start Produce Sales in Delray Beach, Florida, which recalled batches of cucumbers in late May after the initial illness reports. According to the FDA, Bedner Growers also supplied cucumbers to various locations where people who got sick had bought or eaten them.
Investigators initially identified two separate salmonella outbreaks possibly linked to cucumbers but later merged them into one due to similarities in timing and the food involved. The FDA noted that nearly 70% of sick individuals interviewed had eaten cucumbers before falling ill. The investigation is still ongoing.
According to the FDA, Bedner Growers' cucumber season has ended, and no products from the farm are currently on the market, which means there's likely no ongoing risk to the public.
As of July 1, the FDA and CDC said that several states have reported salmonella illnesses caused by Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup.
Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin reported having one to three cases.
A slightly higher number of cases, ranging from four to nine, have been recorded in Alabama, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Rhode Island.
States with 10 to 18 cases are Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio, while Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have 19 to 34 cases.
The states with the highest number of infections are Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, each with 35 to 60 reported cases. The FDA and CDC continue to monitor this salmonella outbreak to prevent further spread.
