Sixty-eight people have been infected with this food borne illness across 19 states.
Image credit: CDC
Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned of a Salmonella outbreak that has been reported across several states and scores of people sickened. Specifically, 68 people have been infected with the food borne illness in 19 states.1
As of November 29, 18 people have been hospitalized and no one has died from the outbreak.1
On November 27, SunFed Produce LLC recalled all sizes of their whole fresh cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers for retail or food service. According to the CDC’s website, “epidemiologic and traceback information shows that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, SA de CV in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC, may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick.”1
Salmonella is bacterial infection most frequently caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria.2
According to the Mayo Clinic, presentation of Salmonella symptoms may include the following: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, headache, and blood in the stool. Symptoms can last a few days up to a week and diarrhea may last up to 10 days.2
The outbreak has been traced to cucumbers grown by Agrotato in Sonora, Mexico, and distributed by SunFed Produce LLC, which recalled the products on November 27, 2024.
Salmonella infection typically causes symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting, lasting up to 10 days.
The CDC advises consumers to check cucumbers for "SunFed Mexico" stickers and discard or return them if identified.
The infection often resolves on its own but certain patient populations such as young children, seniors, or people with weakened or compromised immune systems, may need to seek medical care, especially if the infection symptoms last more than a few days, patients have high fevers or bloody stools, or dehydration, which can be associated with infrequent urination, dark colored-urine, and having a dry mouth and tongue.2
According to the CDC, these cucumbers may still be in consumers’ households, so it is important for everyone to check the stickers on your cucumbers. If the sticker shows "SunFed Mexico" as the place where your cucumbers were grown, throw them away or return them to the location where you bought them.1
This includes for those consumers who bought whole cucumbers from October 12 through November 26. The federal agency says if consumers can't tell where they are from, then the cucumbers should be discarded. In addition, cucumber consumers should wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products with hot, soapy water or by using a dishwasher.1
CDC says for any consumers who have specific questions, they should contact their state’s health department.
