FDA Recalls Cucumbers in 14 States Over Potential Salmonella Contamination

Recalled Fresh Start cucumbers. FDA

Certain batches of cucumbers sold by Florida-based Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. have been recalled from U.S. stores due to concerns about bacterial contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recalled whole cucumbers were shipped to 14 states between May 17 and 21.

The cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons and sent to distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The product was recalled “due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” according to a June 1 FDA recall notice.

“Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.” In some rare circumstances, the salmonella organism can enter the bloodstream, resulting in more severe illnesses like arterial infections (infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

The recalled cucumbers are dark green, around 5-9 inches long, and roughly 1.5-2 inches in diameter. Images of the items have been published on the FDA’s website. English and mini cucumbers are not affected by the recall.

While the cucumbers are “unlikely” to be in the marketplace, people who have bought the items should not consume them, the notice warned. The purchased items should either be discarded or returned for a refund.

The notice asked consumers to check whether the place from where they bought the cucumbers sold the recalled items. For further questions, customers can contact Fresh Start Produce Sales at 1-888-364-2993.

The company has notified sellers who bought the cucumbers directly from the firm and asked them to remove the items from sale. “We have also asked our direct customers to notify their customers of this recall.”

The recall was initiated after Fresh Start Produce Sales was informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture that a product sample tested positive for salmonella. The FDA is conducting whole genome sequencing to identify whether the sample is tied to an ongoing salmonella outbreak.

According to data from the FDA, there are currently two active investigations related to salmonella infection. An outbreak identified in April was found to have been caused by Salmonella Typhimurium, with the agency blaming organic fresh basil for spreading the illness.

A second outbreak tied to Salmonella Africana has already affected 141 people. However, the product linked to the outbreak is yet to be identified.

The FDA has initiated multiple vegetable recalls over the past months amid contamination concerns. In February, Dole Fresh Vegetables recalled certain salad kits for the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria infection can be deadly for children. Among pregnant women, the infection can cause stillbirths and miscarriages. The recalls were for salad kits processed on the same line as a recalled cheese product believed to have been contaminated by the bacteria.

At present, the FDA is investigating an ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has affected two people. The product responsible for the illness has yet to be identified.

Salmonella Outbreak

According to the FDA, the salmonella outbreak linked to organic basil led to the recall of two branded items from the market. One is manufactured by Infinite Herbs, LLC, of Miami, and the other by a brand called Melissa.

“Both brands of recalled basil are no longer available for sale and any previously purchased basil should be past shelf life,” the agency said in an April 14 update.

The items were sold mostly in the eastern and central United States, with the region also accounting for all the infection cases. In total, there were 12 illnesses and one hospitalization due to the outbreak. No deaths have been reported.

A May 23 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 109 people from 29 states were infected by a salmonella outbreak that began between late February and April.

Out of the 82 individuals whose information was available, 33 were hospitalized.

Officials interviewed 70 infected individuals, of whom 51 reported having contact with backyard poultry. Eighteen out of 27 people said they bought or obtained poultry before the illness. A common poultry supplier was not identified.

“The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC said.

“This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”

According to CDC estimates, salmonella causes roughly 1.35 million infections annually in the United States, with 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Food is the source of “most of these illnesses.”

Symptoms of infection typically begin six hours to six days after being infected and can last for four to seven days. Most people recover without any specific treatment.

The agency warned against taking antibiotics since they are usually only used to treat individuals with severe illness.