The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating an outbreak of almonella linked to whole cucumbers. So far, dozens of people across the country have become ill, and there’s been a number of recalls linked to fresh cucumbers. Here’s what we know about the outbreak, and what you should do if you have cucumbers in your fridge.
Why Are Cucumbers Being Recalled?
There has been a multistate outbreak of salmonella, and the FDA and Centers for Disease Control investigation has linked it to fresh cucumbers. So far, 26 people have become ill, and nine people have been hospitalized.
Illnesses linked to the cucumbers have been recorded in 15 states:
- Alabama
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia.
What Cucumbers Are Part of the Recall?
The affected cucumbers were grown in Florida by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales between April 29 and May 19. They were shipped whole to retailers, restaurants, and food service distributors for use as an ingredient in things like salads and other freshly prepared foods sold at grocery stores and restaurants or served at food service establishments like senior living centers. They were also sold at Bedner Growers produce stands at three locations in Florida.
What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella?
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. They typically occur 12 to 72 hours after eating something contaminated with salmonella, according to the FDA. Children, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to have severe infections that require hospitalization.
Bedner Growers Linked to Last Year’s Recall
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because there were two salmonella outbreaks linked to cucumbers last year. One, in November and December 2024, included cucumbers grown in Mexico and distributed by SunFedProduce and sickened at least 68 people in 19 states. The other, during the summer of 2024, sickened 551 people and was partially linked to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, the same producer in the current recall.
Recalls Tied to Bedner’s Growers Cucumbers
Because the recalled cucumbers were distributed to food service companies for use in other products, there have been a number of recalls of ready-to-eat products issued from many grocery stores and manufacturers. They are listed on the FDA’s website, which will be updated as necessary. Here are the related recalls so far.
- Big Y Foods subs, wraps, and panini
- Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods marinated cucumber salads
- Albertson’s Greek salads
- Walmart Marketside fresh cut cucumber slices
- PennRose Farms whole cucumbers
- Snowfruit and Snowfox sushi and fresh cucumber products at Kroger stores
- Harris Teeter fresh cucumber and vegetable trays
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What Should I Do if I Have Whole Cucumbers?
Anyone with whole cucumbers in their refrigerator can call the store where they purchased it to see if it’s part of the Bedner Growers recall. If you cannot determine if it’s part of the recall or not, it’s best to throw it away, according to the FDA. If you have any of the recalled cucumber products, you should also throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.
