Cucumbers Recalled After Salmonella Outbreak Hospitalizes 9 in 15 States
Over two dozen illnesses in fifteen states have been confirmed do to a Salmonella outbreak linked to produce.
CDC Links Salmonella Outbreak to Cucumbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a Salmonella outbreak in 15 states, including Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. The outbreak has been linked to whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc.
The affected produce has resulted in 26 confirmed cases of Salmonella. Of those cases, nine people have been hospitalized.
What the FDA Found During Its Investigation
According to the most recent update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, released on May 19, 2025, environmental samples were gathered from the grow facility. Those samples were gathered as part of a follow-up to previous Salmonella outbreaks at the same facility in 2024.
As part of a follow-up inspection in April 2025, FDA investigators collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers, Inc. that was positive for Salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from ill people, by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis. The recent follow-up inspection was in response to the 2024 Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup outbreaks linked to cucumbers grown at Bedner Growers, Inc. Additionally, FDA’s traceback investigation has identified Bedner Growers, Inc. as the common grower of cucumbers in this current outbreak. - FDA
READ MORE: Tomatoes Recalled in Kentucky & Indiana Due to Salmonella
Contaminated Cucumbers Distributed to Stores & Restaurants
The whole cucumbers were distributed to stores, restaurants, and other facilities, and may have been sold either individually or in smaller packages. According to the CDC, the recalled cucumbers may be labeled as "supers," "selects," or "plains."
Why Gram-Negative Bacteria Like Salmonella Matter
Salmonella is a gram-negative bacterium. According to the National Institute of Health, gram-negative bacteria are more resistant to antibiotics.
Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are among the world's most significant public health problems due to their high resistance to antibiotics. These microorganisms have significant clinical importance in hospitals because they often require patients to be in the intensive care unit (ICU), and patients are at high risk of morbidity and mortality. - NIH
Symptoms of Salmonella and Who’s at Risk
Salmonella infection can cause a number of uncomfortable symptoms. These usually begin between 6 hours and 6 days after ingesting the bacteria. For most people, symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. In most cases, people recover without additional treatments in four to seven days.
Antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella happens when the bacteria develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. That means the bacteria are not killed and continue to grow. Resistance to antibiotics is increasing in Salmonella, which can limit treatment options for people with severe infections. CDC
However, in some cases, particularly in the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and in children under the age of five years old, a Salmonella infection can be much more severe, resulting in medical treatment and even hospitalization.
What Consumers and Businesses Should Do Now
Businesses and restaurants that may have received the contaminated cucumbers are being instructed not to sell or serve whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. Additionally, all surfaces and other items that may have come in contact with the recalled produce should be properly washed and sanitized to prevent the spread of Salmonella.
For consumers who may have purchased these cucumbers, you should not consume them. The CDC recommends that you throw away any cucumbers in your home if you are unsure where they were grown or distributed. All home surfaces should also be properly washed and disinfected.
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Gallery Credit: Renee Raven
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