Are the vegetables in your kitchen making you sick? FDA issues urgent recall amid salmonella outbreak
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If you’ve recently tossed a few crispy additions into your salad or sliced them up for a refreshing snack, you might want to pause and check your fridge.
The FDA has just issued an urgent recall on cucumbers after a salmonella outbreak sickened at least 26 people across 15 states, sending nine to the hospital.
For those of us who love a good cucumber sandwich or a crunchy crudité, this news is more than a little unsettling.
What’s Going On With the Cucumbers?
The cucumbers in question were grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. in sunny Boynton Beach, Florida, and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. between April 29 and May 19.
These veggies made their way to grocery stores, restaurants, and even cruise ships departing from Florida ports.
The trouble started when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noticed a spike in salmonella cases, and a follow-up FDA inspection found the bacteria lurking in environmental samples at Bedner Growers.
Here’s the tricky part: these cucumbers may have been sold individually or in smaller packages, with or without a label.
So, even if you don’t see a familiar brand or a “best by” date, you could still have a recalled cucumber in your kitchen.
For those in the food business, the products were labeled as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains.”
If you’re a distributor, restaurant, or retailer, double-check your stock and follow the recall instructions pronto.
Where Have People Gotten Sick?
So far, cases have popped up in states including Alabama, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, of course, Florida.
Also read: Warning: Over 30 products recalled for salmonella risk—is your food safe?
The CDC reports that of the 13 people interviewed, 11 had eaten cucumbers before falling ill. Some even enjoyed their cucumbers while cruising the high seas—proof that foodborne illness doesn’t take a vacation.
The FDA and CDC are still working to pinpoint exactly where the contaminated cucumbers were sold, so if you’ve bought cucumbers recently, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What Is Salmonella, and Why Should You Care?
Salmonella is a sneaky bacteria that can cause a nasty illness called salmonellosis. It’s not just a minor tummy ache—symptoms can include diarrhea, high fever, dehydration, and vomiting so severe you can’t keep liquids down.
These symptoms usually show up six hours to six days after exposure, and while most healthy adults recover without treatment, older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness or complications.
Also read: Are your groceries putting you at risk? Nearly thousands die annually from this silent killer!
How Does Salmonella Get Into Our Food?
Salmonella can contaminate food at any point from farm to table. In this case, the bacteria were found in the environment at the grower’s facility, which means the cucumbers could have picked up the germs before they even left the farm.
Contamination can also happen during processing, packaging, or even in your own kitchen if you’re not careful about washing produce and keeping raw foods separate.
What Should You Do Now?
Have you ever been affected by a food recall? Do you have tips for keeping your kitchen safe and your produce fresh? Or maybe you’re wondering how to tell if your cucumbers are part of the recall? Share your stories, questions, and advice in the comments below!
The FDA has just issued an urgent recall on cucumbers after a salmonella outbreak sickened at least 26 people across 15 states, sending nine to the hospital.
For those of us who love a good cucumber sandwich or a crunchy crudité, this news is more than a little unsettling.
What’s Going On With the Cucumbers?
The cucumbers in question were grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. in sunny Boynton Beach, Florida, and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. between April 29 and May 19.
These veggies made their way to grocery stores, restaurants, and even cruise ships departing from Florida ports.
The trouble started when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noticed a spike in salmonella cases, and a follow-up FDA inspection found the bacteria lurking in environmental samples at Bedner Growers.
Here’s the tricky part: these cucumbers may have been sold individually or in smaller packages, with or without a label.
Cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. in Florida and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. between April 29 and May 19 have been recalled by the FDA due to a salmonella outbreak. Image source: Harshal S. Hirve / Unsplash.
So, even if you don’t see a familiar brand or a “best by” date, you could still have a recalled cucumber in your kitchen.
For those in the food business, the products were labeled as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains.”
If you’re a distributor, restaurant, or retailer, double-check your stock and follow the recall instructions pronto.
Where Have People Gotten Sick?
So far, cases have popped up in states including Alabama, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and, of course, Florida.
Also read: Warning: Over 30 products recalled for salmonella risk—is your food safe?
The CDC reports that of the 13 people interviewed, 11 had eaten cucumbers before falling ill. Some even enjoyed their cucumbers while cruising the high seas—proof that foodborne illness doesn’t take a vacation.
Case count map provided by CDC. Source: FDA.
The FDA and CDC are still working to pinpoint exactly where the contaminated cucumbers were sold, so if you’ve bought cucumbers recently, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What Is Salmonella, and Why Should You Care?
Salmonella is a sneaky bacteria that can cause a nasty illness called salmonellosis. It’s not just a minor tummy ache—symptoms can include diarrhea, high fever, dehydration, and vomiting so severe you can’t keep liquids down.
These symptoms usually show up six hours to six days after exposure, and while most healthy adults recover without treatment, older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness or complications.
Also read: Are your groceries putting you at risk? Nearly thousands die annually from this silent killer!
How Does Salmonella Get Into Our Food?
Salmonella can contaminate food at any point from farm to table. In this case, the bacteria were found in the environment at the grower’s facility, which means the cucumbers could have picked up the germs before they even left the farm.
Contamination can also happen during processing, packaging, or even in your own kitchen if you’re not careful about washing produce and keeping raw foods separate.
What Should You Do Now?
- Check your cucumbers: If you bought cucumbers between April 29 and May 19, especially if they’re unlabeled or you’re unsure of their origin, it’s safest to throw them out.
- Clean your fridge: If you had recalled cucumbers, wash any surfaces they touched with hot, soapy water.
- Watch for symptoms: If you or someone in your household develops symptoms of salmonella, especially if you’re over 60 or have underlying health conditions, contact your healthcare provider.
Have you ever been affected by a food recall? Do you have tips for keeping your kitchen safe and your produce fresh? Or maybe you’re wondering how to tell if your cucumbers are part of the recall? Share your stories, questions, and advice in the comments below!
