Cucumbers imported from Mexico are the probable source of a 68-case outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium according to information released today by the CDC.
The cucumbers were grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, and sold between October 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024.
Eighteen people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths reported so far.
Outbreak victims range in age from <1 to 98 years of age. Approximately two-thirds of the victims are female.
Outbreak cases have been reported in 19 states, including: Alaska, California, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Six illness sub-clusters were identified at two assisted living facilities, three school districts, and one restaurant. An illness sub-cluster is a group of unrelated people who all ate at the same location or event, such as a restaurant, long-term care facility, or school.
On November 27, 2024, Sunfed Produce, LLC recalled all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name.
The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
The cucumbers were supplied to both retailers and food service operators.
On November 28, 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a statement alerting Canadians to the SunFed cucumber recall.
Second time around
This is the second time in less than a year that cucumbers have been the source of a Salmonella outbreak.
Earlier this year, Florida-grown cucumbers were blamed for more than 550 Salmonella infections between March 11, 2024, and July 26, 2024, in an outbreak that spread over 34 states and the District of Columbia and sent 155 people to hospital.
CDC’s advice to consumers
Do not eat any recalled cucumbers.
- Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
- Look for a sticker that shows “SunFed Mexico” as the place where cucumbers were grown.
- If you bought whole fresh American cucumbers during October 12 and November 26 and can’t tell where they are from throw them away.
Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled cucumbers.
- Use hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
- Bloody diarrhea
- So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Not peeing much
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
CDC’s advice to businesses
- Do not sell or serve recalled cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC.
- Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come in contact with recalled cucumbers.
- When possible, notify customers who purchased recalled cucumbers.
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