Federal officials say an outbreak of Salmonella infections traced to cucumbers has ended.
In an Aug. 22 update, the Food and Drug Administration reported that 551 people had become ill during the outbreak, up from 449 on Aug. 14. The outbreak spanned 34 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are likely many more people who have become infected because some do not seek medical attention and others have not been specifically tested for Salmonella infection. The CDC reports that for every person identified in a Salmonella outbreak, 29 others go undetected.
The FDA reported that cucumbers from Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, FL, and Thomas Produce Company of Boca Raton, FL, are likely sources of illness in the outbreak. However, according to the FDA, these growers are not responsible for all the illnesses in this outbreak.
The growing and harvesting season is over and there is no product from these farms on the market, probably with no lingering risk to the public.
The FDA conducted an on-site inspection at Bender Growers Inc. and Thomas Produce Company and collected samples. Salmonella Braenderup was found in canal water samples from both companies.
Whole Genome Sequencing analysis found that the water used by Thomas Produce Company contained Salmonella, consistent with a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that caused some of the illnesses during the outbreak. In addition, the water contained by Bedner Growers Inc. was also used, as previously reported, Salmonella, which corresponded to another strain of Salmonella Braenderup that caused some of the illnesses in this outbreak.
Additional Salmonella species were detected in soil and water samples collected from both Bedner Growers Inc. as Thomas Produce Company.
The FDA found that Salmonella contamination had caused illness at both manufacturers in recent years.
“Multiple other strains of Salmonella, unrelated to this outbreak investigation, found at Bedner Growers Inc. and Thomas Produce Company, matched clinical isolates of disease at the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) database that occurred in 2024 and prior years,” the FDA reported.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. However, anyone can become ill from a Salmonella infection. According to the CDC, infants, children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone who has eaten cucumbers and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctor about possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria, because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can mimic other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. However, in some cases, the diarrhea can be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop serious illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people become infected without becoming ill or showing symptoms. However, they can still spread the infections to others.
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