Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on December 6, 2024
Two more cucumber recalls have been announced since the initial SunFed Produce recall that was linked to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak.
Could we see more recalls?
Probably.
There are several reasons we may see more cucumber recalls announced. But first, let’s talk about the outbreak and published recalls.
As of November 26, 2024, at least 68 people have fallen sick with the same strain of Salmonella bacteria. This outbreak spans 19 states so far. There have been 18 recorded hospitalizations.
The common link involves cucumbers. 82% of those interviewed remembered eating cucumbers in the week prior to becoming sick.
Initially, SunFed Produce, LLC was linked to the outbreak. In response, the producer initiated a voluntary recall on November 27, 2024.
This recall includes all sizes of whole, fresh, American cucumbers. The grower’s name, “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.” is found on a sticker placed on the vegetable.
Recalled produce was sold between October 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024.
Affected product was sold by SunFed Produce, LLC and other importers who shipped the cucumbers to customers in the states of 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. These recalled products were also shipped to the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
From there, other distributors may have shipped to other locations.
After the initial SunFed Produce, LLC recall, more cucumber recalls were announced. All related to the same farm.
Following the SunFed Produce, LLC recall, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co., Inc. in Nogales, Arizona also initiated a recall on November 29, 2024.
This recall also includes product with a sicker with grower name: “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.” This product may also be packaged in a clear, PamPak branded bag with six individual cucumbers. Packaged product can be identified with the UPC 8 2540107010 and was sold between October 12, 2024 through November 26, 2024.
These whole, fresh American cucumbers were sold by Baloian and other importers. Products were shipped to the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Product was also shipped to the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
Russ Davis Wholesale of Wadena, Minnesota issued their own recall on December 2, 2024.
This recall was initiated because they shipped products from Baloian Farms, which have now been recalled.
Recalled product was distributed to foodservice and retail customers in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Affected product is packaged in clear plastic marked with a seven-digit lot code preceded by an “X” on the top in addition to a sell by date. A full list of Russ Davis Wholesale recalled products can be found here.
We are likely to see more cucumber recalls before this outbreak is over for several reasons.
Namely, large farms are often distributed through more than one distributor.
Additionally, farms tend to be located near each other. If there is a larger environmental cause for this outbreak, it likely affected more than one farm.
Also, produce growers often use the same packinghouses and distribution networks. This can lead to significant cross-contamination. A problem that can impact many different products.
Salmonella illnesses can range from mild to quite severe. It is that severe end of the spectrum that makes Salmonella such a big deal.
Common symptoms include:
Most people begin to experience symptoms between six hours and six days after exposure.
Both severity and length of illness can vary from person to person. While many will experience mild illness that passes quickly. Others can experience severe illness lasting weeks or even months after initial symptoms.
Barring serious complication, people tend to feel better within about a week. It’s those serious complications that become the biggest problem.
Most of the time Salmonella bacteria are limited to the intestinal tract. In some cases though, the bacteria can breach the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream capillaries. When this happens, bacteria move throughout the bloodstream where they can infect the urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and even the nervous system.
Common Salmonella complications include bacteremia irritable bowel syndrome, and reactive arthritis.
Salmonella bacteria infections can impact many different tissues in the body. This can cause a variety of infections.
Potential bacteremia infections include:
Irritable bowel syndrome is another common complication of Salmonella illness. In some cases, it can take quite some time before bowel habits return to normal.
Reactive arthritis, a condition affecting the collagen in the joints, eyes, and urethra, is a common complication. This type of infection causes joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and pain during urination. Reactive arthritis symptoms may last for months or even years in some people.
Certain groups of people have conditions or susceptibilities that make them more likely to become sick if exposed and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those more vulnerable to Salmonella infection include:
Those more likely to experience sever symptoms include:
While most people do not need medical intervention and are not prescribed antibiotic treatment, those in the higher risk group are more likely to receive treatment.
In some cases, complications may arise from infection.
If you have been impacted by this Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Salmonella lawyer that can help.
The experienced lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC work hard to hold those responsible for foodborne illnesses accountable.
Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)