Salmonella-Linked Cucumbers Traced to South Florida Grower

FDA has identified a Florida cucumber grower as the originator for a salmonella outbreak in April and early May. As of this post, 45 people have been infected, with 16 hospitalized. Eighteen states, primarily in the East Coast and Midwest, are reporting patients with salmonella poisoning, with the first case traced to April 2 and the last one so far reported on May 10. Delray Beach, FL-based Bedner Growers, its distributor, and several of those who purchased the cucumbers have issued a voluntary recall.

The cucumbers entered the market not only through distribution to retailers such as Target and restaurants, but also through three Bedner Growers farm markets in Florida. The majority of cases are in Georgia and Florida, although a few cases were reported as far away as California and Kansas.

People from six different cruise shipping departing from Florida reported illnesses and were found to be infected with salmonella, the CDC reports from its investigation.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses,” the report says.

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CDC uses PulseNet, a network of laboratories from across the country that connects foodborne and waterborne cases to detect outbreaks faster.

“PulseNet uses the DNA fingerprints of bacteria making people sick to detect thousands of local and multistate outbreaks,” a CDC page dedicated to the network says.