Cucumbers, Salads, Mustard Greens Recalled Across Country

A box of recalled SunFed Produce cucumbers. FDA

A wide range of food products are being pulled from markets nationwide because of concerns about bacterial contamination.

Arizona-based SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co., and Minnesota-based Russ Davis Wholesale are voluntarily recalling fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Mexican company Agrotato, said a Dec. 2 update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The three importers sold the cucumbers between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26 with the withdrawals coming as the FDA and other agencies are “investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections” linked to Agrotato produce.

SunFed initiated the recall on Nov. 27, pulling cucumbers distributed to 26 states.

Cucumbers were “packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with ‘SunFed’ label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name, ‘Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.,” the recall notice said.

This was followed by Baloian Farms’ recall issued on Nov. 29 for cucumbers sold in 18 states. Luis Corella, president of Baloian Farms, said the company was working “diligently with the authorities and the implicated farm to determine the possible source.”

The cardboard containers carry “Pamela” brand labels with the cucumbers also sold in a generic white box with the Agrotato sticker or a clear PamPak branded bag of six individual cucumbers, according to the notice.

On Dec. 1, Russ Davis pulled cucumbers and several products that contained the recalled cucumbers.

According to the company’s recall notice, the withdrawn products were distributed in 11 states—Illinois, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The recalled products are labeled Crazy Fresh Garden Salad W/ Ranch Dressing, Crazy Fresh Turkey Havarti Wrap, Crazy Fresh Bacon Avocado Wrap, Quick & Easy Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing, Kowalski’s Market Garden Salad, and Quick & Easy Bacon Avocado Wrap.

Salmonella bacteria “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” the notice said. “Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

“In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.”

Russ Davis said no illnesses have been linked to its recalled products. The company advised customers who have bought the items to dispose of them.

The FDA asked distributors and retailers who purchased products from SunFed, Baloian Farms, or Russ Davis to discard the recalled items and to alert customers who bought them.

“Retailers that have or had recalled product should clean and sanitize any areas that could have come into contact with recalled products,” the FDA said.

“If recalled cucumbers were sold in bulk bins or displays, retailers should discard the contents and use extra care to clean and sanitize bins and displays before refilling.”

So far, 68 people have become ill in this outbreak, with 18 hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, according to the FDA.

Listeria in Mustard Greens

Meanwhile, Baker Farms from Georgia recalled its Baker Farms Curly Mustard sold in 16 oz. plastic bags, citing concerns about contamination by listeria bacteria. The items have a Lot Code of “bak144-6806” and a “Best By” date of Nov. 21, 2024.

The item was sold in nine U.S. states. The recall was issued after the Texas Department of State Health Services informed the company that the product tested positive for the pathogen.

Recent Salmonella Outbreaks

The cucumber salmonella outbreak comes after an earlier outbreak of the pathogen linked to eggs. Sold by Milo’s Poultry Farms, the eggs were recalled. There were 93 infections and 34 hospitalizations in this 12-state outbreak.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.35 million Salmonella infections occur in the United States annually, with most cases linked to contaminated foods.

“Salmonella are a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide,” the agency says.

Infections occur more during the summer season. “Warmer weather and unrefrigerated foods create ideal conditions for Salmonella to grow. Promptly refrigerate or freeze perishables (foods likely to spoil or go bad quickly), prepared foods, and leftovers,” the agency says.

The CDC advises people to see their doctor if they develop any of the following symptoms—fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, signs of dehydration, vomiting or diarrhea for over two days, and blood in urine or stool.