Urgent Cucumber Recall in Dozens of States Due to Massive Salmonella Outbreak – Are You at Risk?
Health authorities are warning that hundreds of cucumbers have been recalled after being contaminated with deadly bacteria.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have been sickened by salmonella, a foodborne bacteria that affects 1.3 million Americans annually.
Of those, 125 have been hospitalized. However, the CDC noted that the true number of sick is likely much higher, as many recover without seeking medical care, meaning they are never tested.
The agency identified two Florida growers — Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce — as the likely source of several, but not all, of the illnesses. All affected produce has been pulled from shelves and is no longer in season.
No deaths have been reported.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have been sickened by salmonella from contaminated cucumbers.
Most diseases were contracted in April and May, the beginning of the cucumber season
CDC research shows that most patients became ill in April and May, the start of peak cucumber season.
Testing revealed cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella in untreated canal water used by one grower, and in soil and water collected on both growers’ farms.
Pennsylvania reported the most illnesses (60), followed by New York (57), Florida (52) and Virginia (43).
Salmonella is caused by eating food contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within a few days, but the disease is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths each year.
According to the CDC, the current risk to the public is low.
