More than 50 people have been hospitalized after eating cucumbers that may be contaminated with salmonella, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida, announced that the recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk from May 17 to May 24 to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, according to a Food and Drug Administration news release.
The recall was initiated after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reported a sample of the cucumbers tested positive for salmonella bacteria.
According to the CDC, 162 people have been sickened in connection to the salmonella outbreak, an increase since the recall was first announced.
The cucumbers included in this recall are about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter and 5 to 9 inches long. The recall doesn’t include English or mini cucumbers.
Though the products aren’t likely to still be available for sale, people are urged to not eat the recalled product. Instead, either destroy it or return it to the place of sale for a refund. Consumers should check if the cucumbers from Fresh Start Produce Sales were sold where they shop, the FDA said.
The FDA also has a list of safe food-handling steps to help people avoid foodborne illnesses.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal illnesses in the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
Healthy people often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain with the infection, but in rare cases, they can get more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis if the infection gets into the bloodstream. Anyone with health concerns should check with their primary care provider.
Those with additional questions can contact the company at 888-364-2993.
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