A number of grocery retailers are facing issues due to a salmonella infection linked to cucumbers.

Federal health authorities are looking into a salmonella outbreak that has affected 68 individuals across 19 states, with cucumbers distributed to a majority of states now being recalled.

SunFed Produce, based in Arizona, has pulled cucumbers sold from October 12 to November 26 in over two dozen states, which includes several Walmart, Wegmans, and Albertsons locations, as well as parts of Canada, due to potential contamination with salmonella. Recently, Costco announced that it too had sold some of the affected cucumbers.

Out of the 33 people who have reported illness and were interviewed by health officials, 27 (82%) indicated they had consumed cucumbers, according to the FDA. Fortunately, there have been no reported deaths.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that cucumbers cultivated by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including those from SunFed Produce, could be contaminated with salmonella, leading to these illnesses. The FDA has also linked SunFed cucumbers to certain salmonella cases.

“Upon discovering this issue, we took immediate action to protect consumers and are collaborating closely with authorities and the involved ranch to identify the possible source,” SunFed president Craig Slate stated in a press release.

Walmart, Costco, Wegmans, Albertsons among impacted grocers

Walmart informed its customers about the recall on Thursday, providing a list of specific stores where the cucumbers were sold. These stores are located in various states including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Wegmans also issued a recall on Thursday, informing customers of the potential salmonella contamination in seeded cucumbers purchased up until November 27. The retailer confirmed that all possibly affected items had been removed from store shelves.

Albertsons announced its recall on Thursday, which included vegetable platters and trays (some including hummus), salad and lettuce mixes, as well as sliced cucumbers. These items were sold from October 18 to November 27 in Albertsons, Randalls, and Tom Thumb stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.

Costco updated its website on Friday, declaring its involvement in the cucumber recall. The wholesaler urged customers to check their purchases and isolate any recalled products. The affected cucumbers are identified as item #171067, Cucumber 6 ct., purchased between November 12 and November 27.

Customers who have bought the recalled products can get more information by contacting SunFed’s recall hotline at 888-542-5849, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST, Monday to Friday, as stated by SunFed.

What states have been impacted by salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers?

According to the CDC, 68 individuals have been affected by this salmonella outbreak, but the actual number may be higher since many people recover without seeking medical treatment or testing. Here’s a breakdown of reported cases by state as per the CDC:

• Alaska (1)
• California (1)
• Colorado (8)
• Iowa (2)
• Illinois (2)
• Massachusetts (5)
• Montana (16)
• Nebraska (1)
• New Jersey (1)
• New York (1)
• Ohio (1)
• Oregon (7)
• Pennsylvania (1)
• South Dakota (4)
• Texas (5)
• Utah (2)
• Washington (5)
• Wisconsin (3)
• Wyoming (2)

States where cucumbers possibly linked to salmonella were sold

Fresh cucumbers labeled as American were sold by SunFed and other distributors and were sent to customers in 26 states. The cucumbers might also have reached consumers via food services and retailers in additional states, the FDA has mentioned.

Below is the list of states where the recalled cucumbers were sold, according to the FDA and participating retailers:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The cucumbers were Available in the following Canadian provinces:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Calgary
• Saskatchewan
• Ontario

Signs of Salmonella Infection

According to the FDA, Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can contaminate food during its production when hygiene standards are not upheld, especially if foodworkers fail to wash their hands. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) note that Salmonella can also spread through tainted water used for irrigation.

Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis, typically appear within six hours to six days after being infected and may include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, as per the CDC.

In more severe cases, symptoms may also manifest as body aches, headaches, high fever, fatigue, rashes, and the presence of blood in either urine or stool. Some instances of salmonella can lead to serious outcomes, including death.

The CDC reports that Salmonella is responsible for about 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 fatalities each year in the United States.

This past summer, a Salmonella outbreak associated with recalled cucumbers (not linked to SunFed) affected at least 449 individuals across 31 states, according to the CDC. Other recent outbreaks have been traced back to pet bearded dragons, backyard poultry, and basil.