FDA Expands Urgent Cucumber Recall After Salmonella Hospitalizations

If you have any prepared products that contain cucumbers in your fridge, check the label immediately. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its recent recall of cucumbers due to potential salmonella contamination.

The FDA has posted additional recalls issued by retailers that used the affected cucumbers as ingredients in products such as vegetable trays and sushi or repackaged them. The affected cucumbers are from Bedner Growers, Inc., in Boynton Beach, Florida, and were distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., of Delray, Florida to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors from April 29 to May 19.

The retailers who used the cucumbers have issued recall notices with detailed information on the products that may be affected. Click on the links below to learn more. So far, the retailers include:

• Harris Teeter: fresh cucumbers and vegetable trays
• Walmart: Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices produced in select stores in Texas
• PennRose Farms, LLC: 5-pound mesh bags of whole cucumbers with Restaurant Depot and PennRose Farms logos
• JFE Franchising, Inc.: fresh-cut cucumber items and sushi products sold in plastic containers under the SNOWFRUIT or SNOWFOX label at Kroger, Roundy’s (Pick n Save and Metro Market), and Weis Market locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New York
• Albertsons Companies: three store-made salads available at ACME, Balducci's Food Lovers Market, Kings Food Markets, Safeway, Shaw’s and Star Market in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
• Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC: marinated cucumber salads available at Food Lion stores in Virginia and North Carolina; Harris Teeter in Williamsburg, Virginia; Kroger stores in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky; Libbie Market in Richmond, Virginia.; and Ukrop’s Market Hall in Richmond, Virginia
• Big Y Foods: made-to-order subs, wraps, and paninis sold in some Massachusetts and Connecticut retail stores

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As of May 27, cases of salmonella linked to the recall have been reported in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. So far, there have been 26 illnesses and nine hospitalizations connected to salmonella contamination.

Those infected with salmonella may show symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated food. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections. The symptoms usually last four to seven days. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have a salmonella infection.

The FDA advises throwing away the affected products or returning them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you purchased or received potentially contaminated products, you should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched them to reduce cross-contamination.

Consumers with questions may contact Bedner Growers, Inc. by calling 866-222-9180 Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or contacting the place of purchase.