Yes, there is a cucumber recall

Salmonella is a common type of food poisoning caused by bacteria of the same name. Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, stomach pains and vomiting, the Cleveland Clinic says.

VERIFY reader Rudy reached out to ask about a potential cucumber recall due to salmonella contamination.

THE QUESTION

Is there a cucumber recall?

THE SOURCES

• Centers for Disease Control
• Food and Drug Administration
• Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc.
• Cleveland Clinic

THE ANSWER

Yes, there is a cucumber recall.

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WHAT WE FOUND

On May 31, the Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of cucumbers produced by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. after a sample of the product tested positive for salmonella.

The affected cucumbers were sent out between May 17, 2024 and May 21, 2024 to “retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia,” the FDA says.

It’s possible the recalled cucumbers made it to additional states as well because wholesalers may have shipped them out to other locations, the CDC explains. 

The recall does not include mini cucumbers or English cucumbers.

Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. says it notified customers of the recall and the affected products should no longer be on store shelves. 

The company added that it “sourced the recalled cucumbers from a single Florida farm that is no longer growing, harvesting, or shipping cucumbers.”

On June 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared an investigation notice regarding a salmonella outbreak potentially related to cucumbers. According to the CDC, 162 people have reported being sick, with 54 requiring hospitalization. 

The FDA has not yet linked this outbreak to the recall and is still looking for the source of the outbreak. They’re also investigating whether any other cucumbers were affected.

Both the FDA and the CDC share guidelines for customers to stay safe. They recommend people avoid eating any recalled cucumbers and to wash items that may have come in contact with potentially contaminated cucumbers with hot soapy water or dishwater. 

The CDC recommends checking with the store where you purchased the cucumbers from to find out if they were part of the recall. 

“If you can’t tell, do not eat them,” the CDC adds. 

This story is also available in Spanish / Lee este artículo también en español: Si, hay un retiro de pepinos