Cucumbers recalled after salmonella outbreak in 31 states
Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida, is recalling whole cucumbers shipped to 31 states. (FDA)
Cucumbers in 31 states and the District of Columbia are being recalled after hundreds of people have reported illnesses linked to salmonella.
In an update, the Center of Disease Control (CDC) announced Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections, which were originally reported as two separate outbreaks.
The agency identified that 449 people were ill after eating salmonella-laden cucumbers and 125 people were hospitalized.
No one has died from salmonella linked to the infected cucumbers, the CDC said.
CUCUMBERS RECALLED IN 14 STATES OVER POTENTIAL SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION
The government agency revealed that an investigation linked a strain of the infection to two sources.
The cucumbers linked to the outbreak have so far sickened 449 people across 31 states and Washington, D.C. (Center of Disease Control / Fox News)
HY-VEE RECALLING MULTIPLE ITEMS, CITING SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION RISK
One of the sources was linked to untreated canal water used by a grower in Florida.
What you should do
The CDC says you should follow four food safety steps to prevent getting sick from Salmonella.
- Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
- Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
- Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the outside temperature is hotter than 90°F, refrigerate within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
Symptoms of Salmonella
- Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
- Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
- Some people – especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems – may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.