Baloian Farms of Arizona Co., Inc. (Baloian) is recalling whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Baloian initiated this recall after learning from SunFed Produce, LLC that its U.S. cucumber supplier, “Agrotato, SA de CV,” may be associated with reported salmonellosis illnesses between October 12 and November 15, 2024. Discussions with US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) confirmed this.
The recalled cucumbers were sold between October 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024.
The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by Baloian and other importers and shipped to customers in the states of California, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Colorado, Kansas, New York, Massachusetts, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Iowa , Missouri, Wisconsin, Alaska and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The cucumbers are said to have reached consumers through food service and retail stores that may be located in states other than those mentioned above.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. 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 any of the recalled 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.
Recalled product:
- All sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard boxes branded ‘Pamela’, a generic white box with a sticker bearing the name of the grower involved, ‘Agrotato, SA de CV’, or a clear PamPak branded bag with 6 pieces of loose cucumbers with the UPC 8 2540107010 6.
Consumers should check if they have recalled whole fresh American cucumbers. Anyone in possession of the recalled American cucumbers should not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute them; we also encourage consumers to clean and disinfect surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled product to reduce cross-contamination.
Recalled products must be discarded or destroyed so that they cannot be consumed or returned to the point of sale. If you think you have used a recalled product and are not feeling well, contact your healthcare provider.
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