Cucumbers Recalled After 26 Sickened in Salmonella Outbreak

More than two dozen people have reported salmonella illnesses linked to contaminated cucumbers.

Cucumbers recalled for salmonella. U.S. Food and Drug Administration via AP

Cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales are linked to a new outbreak of salmonella illnesses, affecting at least 26 people across 15 states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported late Monday.

U.S. health officials advised that if consumers don’t know the source of their cucumbers, they should discard them. Retailers should notify consumers who may have purchased those affected products.

At least nine people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, illnesses were reported between April 2 and April 28.

The states with three or more cases include Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida. Several individuals who fell ill consumed cucumbers on cruise ships departing from Florida ports.

Organic cucumbers are not affected, officials said.

The cucumbers were sold to restaurants, stores, and food service distributors between April 29 and May 19, meaning some purchased by consumers may still be within their shelf life this week. They could be used in salads, soups, or other dishes by individuals or families.

The cucumbers may have been sold individually or in smaller packages, labeled as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains,” according to the CDC.

Health officials are investigating the distribution chain of the potentially contaminated cucumbers at the moment.

Bedner Growers is voluntarily recalling cucumbers sold at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market between April 29 and May 14.

The recalled cucumbers were sold directly to consumers at three Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market locations in Florida (Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach). As these cucumbers lack stickers or labeling, customers are advised to discard any purchased at these locations during the specified period.

This is not the first time Bedner Growers has been linked to a salmonella outbreak.

In 2024, an outbreak that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations across 34 states and Washington was traced to untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and another company, Thomas Produce.

The current outbreak was detected during a follow-up inspection related to the 2024 case. Officials found salmonella bacteria in farm samples that matched strains from affected individuals.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Healthy individuals infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, salmonella can enter the bloodstream, leading to severe conditions such as arterial infections (e.g., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, or arthritis.

From NTD News