Summary
You know how we always worry about undercooked meat giving us food poisoning? Well, it turns out that even our veggies can turn against us! Imagine buying a ‘healthy’ cucumber and it ends up causing you salmonella, as has happened to 68 people across 19 states. The culprits are believed to be cucumbers grown in Sonora, Mexico, and sold by an Arizona-based company, SunFed. This just goes to show that it’s not just the cookie dough we need to be wary of, but also where our fresh produce is coming from.
Key Points
• A salmonella outbreak across 19 states has resulted in 68 people falling ill, 18 of whom needed hospital treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked these illnesses to cucumbers.
• The outbreak is believed to be tied to cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, and sold by SunFed Produce in Arizona and other importers.
• SunFed Produce has recalled all sizes of the product described as “whole fresh American cucumbers.”
• The CDC is working with public health and regulatory officials, including the FDA, to investigate the infections.
• The cucumbers were sold in the US and Canada, and the recall affects more than half the states.
Background
• Fruits and vegetables can also pose a risk for salmonellosis, an infection caused by the salmonella bacteria, usually associated with undercooked meat. Contamination can occur from the soil, irrigation water, processing centers, or distribution trucks.
• This recall comes months after a similar outbreak caused by cucumbers from different growers resulted in 551 illnesses across 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Future Implications
• The true number of people affected by this outbreak may be much higher than reported, suggesting the outbreak could continue to spread.
• Consumers are advised to look for a sticker showing “SunFed Mexico” as the growing location and to discard or return any recalled cucumbers. This could potentially impact the reputation and sales of SunFed Produce.
• This incident highlights the importance of food safety and may lead to increased scrutiny and regulation in the food industry, particularly for imported produce.
