Fresh Cucumbers Linked to a Multistate Salmonella Outbreak

After the initial recall of the Bedner whole cucumbers, some companies announced recalls of products that used them. (Click on the links for specific product names and lot code information.)

• Harris Teeter has recalled vegetable trays.
• Kroger has recalled Yumi Sushi-branded products.
• Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods has recalled marinated cucumber salads.
• Snowfruit/Snowfox has recalled fruit and vegetable trays; various salads and bowls; and cucumber-containing sushi. The products were sold at Kroger, Roundy’s (Pick ’n Save and Metro Market), and Weis Market locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
• The Coastal Companies has recalled 17 products containing the cucumbers, including certain varieties of Ahold salsa, East Coast Fresh salsa, Tops Salsa, Weis salsa, and Wellsley Farms salsa. Other products include The House Salad from Created Fresh, Jack and Olive, and Spring and Sprout, and various other Created Fresh products: Mini Garden salad, Chicken Salad on Everything Fecelle, Egg Salad on Everything Fecelle, Tuna Salad on Everything Fecelle, and Southwestern Breakfast Bowl.
• Walmart has recalled its Marketside fresh-cut cucumber slices.
• Albertsons Companies has recalled three store-made deli products: Authentic Greek Salad sold at Acme, Safeway, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; and Readymeals Greek Salad and Greek Salad sold at Shaw’s and Star Market in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
• Big Y Foods has recalled certain made-to-order paninis, subs, and wraps sold at some stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Cucumbers rank No. 2 on CR’s 10 Risky Foods list of top outbreaks and recalls from 2024.

One issue with cucumbers, along with other vegetables, is that they can become contaminated by bacteria from animal waste in the soil or irrigation water, often from runoff from nearby livestock, Rogers says. 

“That’s why it’s so important when shopping for produce to choose fruits and vegetables that are not bruised or have damaged skin, because bacteria can more easily enter through those areas,” he says. 

Washing and peeling produce can reduce bacteria, but it won’t remove all of it. If you have cucumbers that may be linked to this outbreak, Rogers says it’s important to clean the area of your fridge where they were stored to prevent cross-contamination. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water, or use a commercial kitchen sanitizer.

About 1.35 million people are sickened by salmonella each year. Symptoms can begin 6 hours to six days after exposure and include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

In some people, the infection can spread to the bloodstream, causing even more severe illness that may require antibiotics. If the infection spreads beyond the intestines and into the bloodstream, or if a person is severely dehydrated, hospitalization may be necessary.