A salmonella outbreak linked to a Florida cucumber producer has now affected 45 individuals across 18 states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Target has joined various retailers in recalling cucumbers and ready-to-eat products containing them, urging customers to discard these items. The recall includes Boar’s Head’s Greek-style chicken salad and several sushi products under the Mai brand. Walmart also announced the recall of its Marketside cucumber slices.
States reporting illnesses include Alabama, California, Florida, and several others, with 16 hospitalizations but no fatalities thus far. The primary strain identified is salmonella montevideo, although other strains were found in samples from a Pennsylvania distribution center of Bedner Growers, the suspected source. Investigations are ongoing, and the CDC is assessing if these other strains are linked to additional illnesses.
The cucumbers, sold from April 29 to May 19, were initially traced to three Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market locations, with the list of retailers growing. Other distributors and eateries that may have received the cucumbers labeled as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains” are also under scrutiny. The FDA discovered contaminated cucumbers during a routine inspection following a previous Salmonella Africana outbreak associated with Bedner Growers.
Salmonella, which thrives in contaminated environments, can cause serious illness, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children. Symptoms typically manifest within six hours to six days post-infection and include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. The CDC emphasized that salmonella remains a major cause of foodborne illnesses and related hospitalizations in the U.S. and globally.
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