A food alert issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked a Salmonella outbreak to cucumbers from two Florida farms, prompting an investigation and recalls. The outbreak, attributed to strains of Salmonella including S. Africana and S. Braenderup, resulted in 449 reported illnesses and 125 hospitalizations across 31 states and Washington D.C., as reported by CBS.
The CDC pinpointed the source of the outbreak to Bedner Growers of Boynton Beach and Thomas Produce of Boca Raton, with laboratory and traceback data supporting these findings; however, there were initial separate traces of the bacteria in untreated canal water used by Thomas Produce, they've combined the two into a singular outbreak upon discovering shared characteristics including food contamination and illness timelines. According to Food Safety Magazine, whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been critical in linking the two outbreaks and identification of contaminated water as a possible source.
Despite the cucumber growing season's end at both Bedner Growers Inc. and Thomas Produce Company, and their products no longer in the market, this announcement comes after a series of investigations which led to the recall of whole cucumbers by Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Florida. These cucumbers had been distributed to retail centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors across 14 states and were recalled following positive Salmonella tests by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Salmonella symptoms, typically beginning six hours to six days post-consumption, include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with most cases resolving without treatment - nevertheless, children under five, seniors over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems may endure more severe illness. The CDC advocates for preventive measures to curb such infections; these include the use of separate utensils for cooked and raw foods, hand washing, cooking foods to safe temperatures, and prompt refrigeration of perishables.
