CDC Says Cucumbers Likely Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in 25 States

Cucumbers grown in Florida and distributed across the country have been identified as the likely cause of a Salmonella outbreak in at least 25 states, according to a report from the CDC Wednesday. The agency says 162 people who’ve become sick have been identified but that’s likely a vast undercount of the real number since most people don’t report their illness.

Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Florida first issued a recall of the cucumbers on May 31, warning that cucumbers shipped May 17-21 were potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The issue was first identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which oversees the state that currently has the highest number of confirmed cases at 27.

Other states with the highest case counts include New York (19), Florida (18), Virginia (17), and Ohio (9). Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina have all identified 8 cases each.

The recalled cucumbers are dark green, roughly 1.5-2 inches in diameter, and between 5-9 inches long. The recall doesn’t include English cucumbers or mini cucumbers, and the CDC says most of the potentially dangerous cucumbers should no longer be in stores. But recent illnesses may not have been identified yet since it can take roughly 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak, according to the CDC.

The states and numbers of cases which have been identified so far, according to the CDC:

• Alabama (1)
• Arkansas (1)
• Connecticut (2)
• District of Columbia (1)
• Delaware (1)
• Florida (18)
• Georgia (8)
• Iowa (3)
• Indiana (1)
• Kentucky (4)
• Massachusetts (5)
• Maryland (2)
• Michigan (4)
• Minnesota (5)
• Missouri (1)
• North Carolina (7)
• New Jersey (3)
• New York (19)
• Ohio (9)
• Pennsylvania (27)
• Rhode Island (4)
• South Carolina (8)
• Tennessee (8)
• Texas (2)
• Virginia (17)

Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain according to the FDA. And in rare cases, Salmonella can even lead to severe illnesses like arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.

“Although these cucumbers are unlikely in the marketplace, anyone with the recalled product should not consume it and should destroy and discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund,” the FDA said in a press release. “Consumers should check with their retailer or place of purchase to determine whether the recalled cucumbers were sold where they shop.”