Cucumbers distributed to customers in 26 states and five Canadian provinces have been recalled due to possible salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week.
SunFed Produce recalled all sizes of its whole fresh cucumbers sold between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26 over concerns the produce may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, according to an FDA filing published Thursday.
The cucumbers were sold in bulk cardboard containers with a “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic grate with a sticker to indicate the grower’s name, the company said in the filing.
“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,” SunFed President Craig Slate said.
Infections from salmonella bacteria can cause fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Symptoms can begin anywhere from six hours after ingestion to six days afterward and last between four days and a week. Infections can be fatal in young children, elderly adults or those with weakened immune systems.
The recall applies to the SunFed cucumbers sold in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
They were also shipped to the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Ontario, though they may have also been sold at retail outlets other than the locations listed, the FDA noted.
No other products from the Arizona produce company were included in the recall.
Customers were advised to check their products against images provided by the FDA and throw out or destroy any qualifying products. Customers who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled product were advised to contact their retailer.
Earlier this year, more than 160 people were sickened by a salmonella outbreak linked to some cucumbers sold by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc.
