Cucumbers imported from Baja, Mexico by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego, California have been recalled for Salmonella contamination. There is a link between those cucumbers and a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 285 people in 27 states.
The recalled garden cucumbers are identified as “Limited Edition” brand pole grown cucumbers. The labeling on the cases states that the product was grown and packed by Rancho Don Juanito in Mexico. They were distributed to these states from August 1 through September 3, 2015: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. They may have been distributed in other states by distribution centers.
Consumers should not eat, restaurants should not serve, and retailers should not sell these recalled cucumbers. Unfortunately, these cucumbers are sold in retail grocery stores without any identifying brand information. If you aren’t sure whether or not you bought them, check with your retailer and ask if they sold cucumbers from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.
Since cucumbers are usually eaten without cooking, which kills bacteria, this recall is more serious. One person has died in this outbreak, and the hospitalization rate is higher than usual for Salmonella infections. Epidemiologists don’t yet know if the Salmonella Poona bacteria are antibiotic resistant, or if the illnesses are so severe because many of those sickened are children.
If you purchased slicer, American, or garden variety cucumbers since August 1, 2015, check with your retailer to see if they were part of the recalled product. If they were, and you have been sick with the symptoms of a Salmonella infection, which include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody, see your doctor.
These cucumbers were sold to restaurants as well, so if you ate a meal at a restaurant in the month of August that included cucumbers, and have experienced the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning, see your doctor. The complications of a Salmonella infection can be severe, including sepsis and blood infections. The long-term complications of this infection can be serious too, including arthritis and heart problems.
