The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of whole fresh American cucumbers Thursday that it says are potentially contaminated with Salmonella.
The recall, initiated by SunFed Produce, LLC, encompasses all sizes of cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers with the “SunFed” label or in generic white boxes or black plastic crates featuring a sticker with the grower’s name, “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.”
According to the FDA, the affected cucumbers were sold between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26. Salmonella is a common foodborne bacterium that can create severe health issues.
The FDA explains that Salmonella can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience symptoms such as fever, diarrhea that may be bloody, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain.
The recent recall affects cucumbers that were distributed to multiple states across the United States and several Canadian provinces. The FDA reports that the cucumbers may have additionally been distributed through food service and retail outlets, potentially extending beyond the listed locations.
In a company announcement Wednesday SunFed President Craig Slate stated: “As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately acted to protect consumers. We are working closely with authorities and the implicated ranch to determine the possible cause.
“Here at SunFed, food safety and consumer health and wellness have been our priorities for more than 30 years. We require all of our growers to strictly comply with the FDA food safety requirements.”
The FDA advises anyone who may have purchased the recalled cucumbers to refrain from consuming them, properly dispose of them, and clean and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with them to prevent cross-contamination.
The cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers in Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
The recall was initiated after SunFed was notified by the FDA that their products may have been linked to recent Salmonella illnesses. SunFed said it is also contacting each of its direct buyers to alert them of the recall.
For those unsure if they have purchased the recalled cucumbers, the FDA suggests contacting their retailer. Also, anyone who suspects they may have consumed the recalled product and feels sick should contact their health care provider.
Consumers seeking more information about the recall can contact SunFed’s recall hotline at 888-542-5849, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST, according to the FDA announcement.