Cucumber Food Poisoning Outbreak Results in Recall for Produce Sold at Walmart, Wegmans, Other Stores

Federal health officials are warning that certain cucumbers sold at Walmart, Wegmans, Costco and several other popular retail stores and grocery chains could be contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium, a dangerous bacteria that has already caused dozens of individuals nationwide to become sickened with food poisoning.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacteria, which can contaminate produce when either the water or soil used during the growing processes has been tainted.

On November 27, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Sunfed Produce, LLC announced a cucumber recall, impacting all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers that were packaged in bulk cardboard containers and distributed throughout the U.S. between October 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024.

Among healthy adults, symptoms of salmonella food poisoning typically include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, which usually only last about a week and resolve on their own. However, for older adults, young children, or those with weakened immune systems, the salmonella contaminated cucumbers could cause serious infections, potentially resulting in hospitalization or even death.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning about the new salmonella outbreak on November 29, indicating that at least 68 people in 19 different states have already been sickened by the specific strain linked to the SunFed Produce cucumbers.

Sunfed Produce indicates that the recalled cucumbers were sold through many major retail stores and grocery chains, including Albertsons, Costco, Walmart and Wegmans, in the following states:

In addition, the contaminated cucumbers were sold in several Canadian provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

However, federal officials warn that the cucumbers could have reached consumers in other states as well.

Each of the 68 illnesses identified so far were reported between October 12 and November 15, including at least 18 individuals who suffered food poisoning symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

Cucumbers affected by the recall were sold in white boxes or black plastic crates, with stickers on them that identify the grower as Agrotato, S.A. de C.V., a company located in Sonora, Mexico.

As a result of the cucumber food poisoning outbreak, the FDA is warning consumers that they should take the following precautions, since refrigeration does not kill salmonella bacteria:

• Check to see if the recalled cucumbers are still in refrigerators.
• If the recalled product is still in a customer’s possession, they should not consume, serve, use, sell or distribute any of the recalled cucumbers. Surfaces that have come in contact with the tainted cucumbers should also be cleaned and sanitized to reduce cross-contamination.
• The recalled products should be thrown out, destroyed or returned to where they were purchased.
• If a consumer is unsure whether they have purchased the recalled products, they  are advised to contact the retailer.
• Those who believe they have consumed the recalled cucumbers and do not feel well, should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Those who have purchased the recalled cucumbers can also contact SunFed’s recall hotline at (888) 542-5849, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST.

“Here at SunFed, food safety and consumer health and wellness have been our priorities for more than 30 years. We require all of our growers to strictly comply with the FDA food safety requirements,” Craig Slate, president of SunFed, said in a statement.

Cucumber Salmonella Recall Lawsuit

Earlier this year, another cucumber salmonella outbreak sickened at least 445 people in 31 different states, as well as the District of Columbia.

The cucumbers at the center of that recall were produced in Florida, and sold under the brand name Fresh Start. Health officials identified two strains of salmonella in those recalled cucumbers, and several consumers have filed cucumber recall lawsuits against the grower and distributor.