Check Your Fridge: Cucumbers Recalled in 26 States Over Salmonella Concerns, With 68 People Falling Ill

If you purchased any cucumbers for any of your upcoming holiday dishes, you may want to check your fridge.

On November 29, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local partners, announced they are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to American/slicer cucumbers.

According to the FDA, the produce came from SunFed Produce, LLC, which initiated a voluntary recall of all sizes of its fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. The produce, the FDA added, was sold between October 12, 2024, and November 26, 2024, and were packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the SunFed label and also had stickers that said "Agrotato, S.A. de C.V."

The announcement added that the recall includes stores and food service outlets across 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. Some Canadian provinces — such as Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario — have also been impacted.

It also said that "distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states." The recall status is ongoing, and as of November 26, the FDA reported that a total of 68 people have confirmed infections, 18 of which have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. 

As for symptoms to watch for, the FDA explained that usually, a salmonella infection presents within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, with symptoms lasting between four to seven days. "Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps," it noted. "Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections." 

The organizations recommended that retailers and distributors who purchased the recalled cucumbers discard any remaining product and notify their customers as soon as possible. It noted that retailers that "have or had recalled product should clean and sanitize any areas that could have come into contact with recalled products. If recalled cucumbers were sold in bulk bins or displays, retailers should discard the contents and use extra care to clean and sanitize bins and displays before refilling."

For individual consumers, the FDA said they should check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled cucumbers, which may have a sticker that says “SunFed Mexico.” If you do have any, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they came in contact with immediately.