More than 160 patients eating cucumbers linked to a salmonella outbreak

More than 160 patients eating cucumbers linked to a salmonella outbreak

The situation is grave, as a salmonella outbreak, affecting 162 people and leading to 54 hospitalizations, has forced the withdrawal of cucumbers from 14 states.

Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. is recalling its 'Complete' brand of cucumbers after they tested positive for salmonella, and weres their 'Complete' brand of cucumbers after a positive salmonella test, which shipped to retail centers in 14 states.

Your health and the health of your loved ones must check if the cucumbers you've purchased have been recalled. If so, they should be destroyed or returned. Remember, symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

Check your refrigerator or produce drawer for cucumbers that match the description of the recalled product: dark green, about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, and 5 to 9 inches long. Cucumbers meeting these criteria have been recalled from the gardens in 14 states and recently linked to a salmonella outbreak.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 162 people reported illness, and 54 were hospitalized with salmonella after a cucumber recall by a Florida producer.

The agency's epidemiological data and testing showed that the outbreak strain of Salmonella africana has been reported in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

"Illness onset occurred on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to May 16, 2024," the CDC stated in a June 5 update, adding that no deaths had been reported.

In cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration, Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. announced that it will recall an entire option due to possible salmonella contamination.

'The recall began after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture informed the company that a product sample tested positive for bacteria,' the recall stated. 'The FDA is conducting whole genome sequencing, a process that analyzes the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome, to determine if this sample is related to the ongoing investigation into the Salmonella outbreak.'

The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons from May 17 to 21 directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in 14 states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The company did not say whether any illnesses were associated with the recalled option.

In a reassuring move, Fresh Start Produce Sales notified customers who received the recalled product directly from the company and requested its removal from commerce.

'We have also asked our direct customers to notify their customers of this recall. Fresh Start Produce Sales is issuing this press release and informing the FDA of its recall process to ensure consumers are properly alerted.' The company wrote. For more information, please visit [insert link to recall notice] or contact [insert contact information].

Reclaimed cucumbers are dark green, about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter, and 5 to 9 inches long. Little cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in this recall.

What to do with the mentioned option?

Consumers should check with their local retailer or place of purchase to see if the recalled option is already sold out at the store where they are shopping.

"Although this is an unlikely option on the market, anyone with the recalled product should not consume it," the company said in the recall notice, adding that consumers with any option should "destroy and dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase."

Consumers with additional questions can contact the company toll-free.

Possible health effects symptoms of Salmonella

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and headache. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria.

Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days. But some—especially children younger than 5, adults 65 or older, or people with weakened immune systems—may have more serious illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.