A salmonella outbreak has triggered a widespread recall of cucumbers distributed across the United States, including Illinois, with public health officials linking the contaminated produce to at least 68 reported cases of illness. The implicated cucumbers were supplied by SunFed Produce and two other companies, with confirmed cases occurring in 19 states thus far. Three companies, SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co., and Russ Davis Wholesale, have been identified as sources of the recalled cucumbers, as reported by CBS News.
The recalled vegetables, including whole, fresh American cucumbers, were sold between October 12 and November 26. According to NBC Chicago, they were available for purchase at several major retailers, such as Walmart and Costco. The reported cases of salmonella, an illness that typically causes symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, have resulted in at least 18 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported, as of yet.
Health officials are advising consumers to be vigilant and discard any cucumbers that match the recalled products' descriptions. These cucumbers may have been distributed in bulk cardboard containers with the "SunFed" label or in generic plastic crates, as stated by the FDA. Recalled items also include a variety of salads and wraps and can be identified by specific stickers or packaging, such as "SunFed Mexico" or PamPak branded bags. Alongside direct cucumber sales, related products such as ready-to-eat salads and wraps have been recalled, including vegetable trays and salads at Kroger and King Soopers stores in Colorado and Texas with best-by dates up to December 6, and Yummy Sushi sold at Kroger stores in Texas, as CBS News indicated.
Consumers who are uncertain about the origin of cucumbers they have purchased since October 12 are being urged to consult the seller to ascertain whether the products are part of the recall or, as a precautionary measure, to throw them out, as per the advice of public health experts. In light of the spread of illness, the public is also recommended to clean and sanitize areas where the potentially contaminated cucumbers may have been placed, to avoid further risk of cross-contamination. For additional information, or to determine whether products in their possession are affected by the recall, consumers may contact SunFed’s recall hotline at (888) 542-5849, informed NBC Chicago.
