THURSDAY, June 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- An outbreak of salmonella illness linked to recalled cucumbers has now expanded to at least 162 cases in 25 states, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.
In an update issued from the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials noted that 54 of the cases were so severe that hospitalization was required, although no deaths have been reported.
In a recall notice posted May 31 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Florida-based Fresh Start Produce recalled the vegetables, which were shipped from May 17 through May 21.
The CDC noted that the "recalled cucumbers should no longer be in stores." The cucumbers were sent 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, the company said. Mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in the recall.
The CDC said that after being shipped to these states, "sellers may have shipped to additional states or re-packaged them for stores." The recall was issued after a cucumber sample that was tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was found to be positive for salmonella. The FDA is now conducting genetic testing to see whether it’s related to an ongoing salmonella outbreak.
Fresh Start Produce notified its customers who received recalled cucumbers directly from the com.
