Topline
A nationwide salmonella outbreak resulting in dozens of hospitalizations and hundreds of infections is linked to recalled cucumbers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, following a monthslong investigation by health officials.
Nearly 450 people are sick across 31 states, resulting in dozens of hospitalizations.
Key Facts
As of July 2, the CDC said Wednesday they had received reports of 449 people infected with one of two strains of salmonella in 31 states and the District of Columbia, including 125 people who have been hospitalized, though no fatalities have been reported.
The CDC and Food and Drug Administration opened an investigation into the cause of the salmonella outbreak in June, after dozens of sickened people reported eating cucumbers.
Of the 188 sickened people, 129 (69%) reported eating cucumbers, which suggests the salmonella outbreak is tied to previously recalled cucumbers, according to the CDC.
Two Florida-based growers likely supplied the cucumbers and are no longer growing or harvesting, though both growers do not account for all reported illnesses, the CDC said: Bedner Growers of Boynton Beach and Thomas Produce Company of Boca Raton.
An inspection of Thomas Produce Company’s site found salmonella in samples of canal water used by the company, including a strain that has been reported in some sickened people.
Other salmonella strains were detected in soil and water samples collected at both Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce, whose cucumbers are no longer in season nor on store shelves.
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What We Don’t Know
The true number of sick people is likely much higher, the CDC said, as the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses and many people—who likely aren’t being tested for salmonella—recover without medical care.
Tangent
Cucumbers have become the target of a social media trend for “cucumber salads,” after TikTok Logan Moffitt—referred to by other users as “ cucumber boy”—began posting several videos about how he uses the vegetable in various recipes. One video posted by Moffitt earlier this week, in which he makes a “jalapeño popper cucumber,” has over 11 million views.
Big Number
1.35 million. That’s the estimated number of people who are infected with salmonella in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. These cases result in about 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths, and food is the source for most of those cases, the agency said.
Key Background
Salmonella is a bacteria that spreads from animals to people, and is mostly found in raw or undercooked foods handled by people who don’t wash their hands or the tools used to prepare the food. The bacteria causes gastrointestinal illness and develops between 12 and 72 hours after infection, though it usually takes up to four weeks to determine if a sickened person is tied to a specific salmonella outbreak, the CDC said. Most salmonella cases last up to a week and most people recover without treatment, with children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems with increased risk of more severe infections. Severe cases result in high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy and blood in the urine, and some cases can be fatal. Common symptoms in less-severe cases include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
News Peg
The FDA and CDC launched an investigation into a salmonella outbreak they believed was tied to recalled cucumbers. Both agencies said they were also investigating another outbreak for another strain of salmonella, noting reported illnesses shared similarities in where and when the illnesses occurred and the demographics of affected people. The FDA determined the cucumbers were likely sold by Frest Start Produce, a produce company based in Delray, Florida, which sells produce from various growers. Fresh Start Produce issued a voluntary recall days before the investigation was announced, saying one of its cucumbers tested positive for salmonella. The cucumbers were shipped over four days in May to 14 states, the company said: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Fresh Start Produce said at the time it was “unlikely” its cucumbers were still in stores.
