Alright, so there’s been some drama around cucumbers lately. Apparently, there’s been a salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. The FDA announced that the outbreak has now expanded to include more companies. Like, seriously, can’t a person enjoy a cucumber without worrying about getting sick?
Who’s involved in this mess? Well, the cucumbers were grown by Bedner Growers in Florida and then sent out by Fresh Start Produce Sales. These cucumbers made their way to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors between April 29, 2025, and May 19, 2025. So, if you’ve been munching on cucumbers during that time, you might want to pay attention.
But wait, there’s more! The FDA has added four additional brands to the recall list. Harris Teeter, Kroger, PennRose Farms, LLC, and Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC are now part of the cucumber debacle. So, if you bought fresh cucumbers, vegetable trays, Yummi Sushi-branded products, 5-pound mesh bags of whole cucumbers, or Marinated Cucumber salads from these companies, you might want to double-check your purchase.
Where were these tainted cucumbers sold? Well, the full scope of the distribution is still a bit fuzzy, but the FDA is on it. The recalled cucumbers were found at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market in Florida between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025. People who got sick from these cucumbers even ate them on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida. I mean, talk about a vacation gone wrong.
As for reported illnesses, at least 26 people in 15 states have fallen ill from these cucumbers. Yikes. Illinois is among the states with confirmed cases, with three to four cases popping up. The CDC is keeping an eye on the situation, so hopefully, they can get to the bottom of this cucumber chaos.
How did they even figure out about this outbreak? Well, it all started with a follow-up inspection in April related to a 2024 outbreak. The investigators found salmonella bacteria in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company. In the current outbreak, they found the same bacteria on the farm that matched samples from sick people. So, I guess that’s how they cracked the case.
If you’re feeling under the weather after eating cucumbers, watch out for symptoms like diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. Sounds like a not-so-fun time, huh? Most people recover within a week without treatment, but kids, older adults, and those with weak immune systems might have a rougher go of it.
So, what should you do if you think you’ve got these bad cucumbers? Well, first off, toss them out if you’re not sure where they came from. Better safe than sorry, right? And if you’re eating out, make sure to ask if the restaurant uses cucumbers from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales. Oh, and if you’re a retailer, restaurant, or distributor, make sure to let your customers know about the recall. And don’t forget to clean and sanitize everything properly.
So, yeah, that’s the cucumber situation right now. Stay safe out there, folks, and maybe stick to carrots for a while. Who knew veggies could cause this much trouble, right?
