A salmonella outbreak across 19 U.S. states, linked to cucumbers, is under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cucumbers implicated in the outbreak were grown in Mexico by Agrotato, S.A., based in Sonora.

As of November 26, 68 cases of salmonella infection have been confirmed, with 50 participants providing health records. Among these, 18 individuals required hospitalization. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported.

Salmonella infections typically cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. According to the FDA, symptoms usually develop 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. The infection poses a higher risk to children under 5 years old, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems. The bacteria are often associated with contamination by animal or human feces, often due to poor hygiene practices during food production.

Consumers who purchased the recalled cucumbers would have received produce labeled with the “SunFed” brand and marked as originating from Mexico. The FDA advises discarding any recalled cucumbers and disinfecting surfaces they may have touched.

Of 33 surveyed participants, 27 reported consuming cucumbers, further implicating the vegetables in the outbreak. As a result, SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms, and Russ Davis Wholesale have voluntarily recalled cucumbers supplied by Agrotato. The FDA is coordinating with these companies and their supply chain partners to identify additional recalls if necessary. The agency is also in communication with other importers who received cucumbers from the same producer.

This incident underscores the importance of maintaining proper hygiene throughout the food production process and implementing swift precautionary measures to protect consumers when potential health risks arise.

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