Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers blamed for sickening more than 400 people, CDC says
(Gray News) - Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they are continuing to investigate a multistate salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 400 people.
Cucumbers from two Florida growers — Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach and Thomas Produce Company, of Boca Raton — are the likely sources of sicknesses, the FDA said in a Aug. 14 update. However, these growers do not account for all the outbreak’s illnesses.
Two strains of salmonella, salmonella africana and salmonella braenderup, are being blamed for the illnesses.
Though 449 people reported being sickened and 125 were hospitalized, the CDC said the true number of sicknesses may never be known because most recover without seeking medical help.
No deaths have been reported.
In addition to the District of Columbia, sicknesses were reported in 31 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
The sickness reports began in March, and the last report was in June.
The agencies said there is still an active investigation even though cucumbers from both of these growers are no longer in season and the products are no longer on shelves.
Tips to prevent illnesses
The CDC said people should follow these food safety tips to prevent foodborne illnesses:
- Wash your hands, utensils and surfaces often, and rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or peeling.
- Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood.
- Use a food thermometer to ensure food is cooked at a temperature high enough to kill germs.
- Refrigerate perishable food within two hours, or within one hour if the outside temperature is hotter than 90° Fahrenheit.
- Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
