162 sickened in Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers: CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday that 162 people have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers.

“Epidemiologic data show that cucumbers may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick,” the agency said in an investigation notice Wednesday.

“Testing identified Salmonella in a cucumber collected as part of this investigation, which resulted in a recall,” the notice continued. “Further testing is underway to see if it is the same strain as the one making people sick. Investigators are also working to collect more information to see if other cucumbers are affected.”

The agency also said in Wednesday’s investigation notice that 54 people had been hospitalized in the outbreak and that it affected 25 states and Washington, D.C.

Last week, Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. said it was recalling “whole cucumbers shipped to certain states from May 17th through May 21st, 2024, due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella” in an announcement.

“The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons from May 17th through May 21st, 2024, directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia,” the announcement reads.

The CDC said people should take actions including not consuming “any recalled cucumbers” and calling their “healthcare provider if” they have symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and an amount of vomiting in which they “cannot keep liquids down.”