SunFed, a US-based produce company, has announced the recall of bulk shipments of whole fresh cucumbers after they were potentially contaminated with salmonella.
The recall affects cucumbers distributed across 26 US states and five Canadian provinces.
The affected cucumbers were sold between October 12 and November 26, 2024, and were packaged in bulk cardboard containers, generic white boxes, or black plastic crates.
According to CBS News, these containers are labelled with the “SunFed” brand or a sticker indicating the grower’s name, “Agrotato, SVA de C”.
The recall was initiated after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified SunFed about the possible contamination. Although the exact number of illnesses linked to the cucumbers has not been confirmed, it was reported that people had become sick after consuming the product between October 12 and November 15.
The company, in its statement, urged consumers to check any cucumbers they may have purchased to ensure they are not part of the recall. Recalled products should not be consumed, sold, or distributed, and should be destroyed or returned to the place of purchase, the statement added.
Salmonella, a bacteria that causes foodborne illness, can lead to severe symptoms such as fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
In some cases, it can result in more serious conditions, such as bloodstream infections or even death, particularly in vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms typically appear between six hours and six days after consuming contaminated food, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
