TOPIC: Bedner Growers, Inc. Recalls Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk
AUDIENCE: Consumer, Patient, Health Care Professional, Gastroenterology
ISSUE: On May 19, 2025, Bedner Growers, Inc., recalled cucumbers sold directly to consumers at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market and to its wholesale distributor. Some potentially contaminated cucumbers were available at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market in three Florida locations including Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025. The recalled cucumbers were also sold to its wholesale distributor. FDA is aware that contaminated product is available at both restaurant and retail locations. FDA is working to determine where potentially contaminated product was distributed.
As part of a follow-up inspection in April 2025, FDA investigators collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers, Inc. that was positive for Salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from ill people, by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis. The recent follow-up inspection was in response to the 2024 Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup outbreaks linked to cucumbers grown at Bedner Growers, Inc. Additionally, FDA’s traceback investigation has identified Bedner Growers, Inc. as the common grower of cucumbers in this current outbreak.
Based on FDA’s investigation, as of May 16, 2025, a total of 26 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo have been reported from 15 states. Of the 23 people for whom information is available, 9 people have been hospitalized. Of the 13 people interviewed, 11 (85%) reported eating cucumbers.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
For more information about this recall, click on the red button "Read Recall" below.
BACKGROUND: Illness resulting from Salmonella infection usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
-
Restaurants, retailers, and distributors that purchased potentially contaminated recalled cucumbers between April 29, 2025 and May 19, 2025 should notify their customers of the potential health concern.
-
Retailers that have or had potentially contaminated product should clean and sanitize any areas that could have come into contact with potentially contaminated products. If potentially contaminated cucumbers were sold in bulk bins or displays, retailers should discard the contents of the bins and use extra care to clean and sanitize the bins before refilling.
-
Retailers that are unsure if they received this product may need to contact their supplier. If you are unable to determine whether or not potentially contaminated product was received, you should discard the contents of the bins and use extra care to clean and sanitize the bins before refilling.
-
Consumers may be contacted by their retailers if they purchased recalled cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers. If you cannot tell if your cucumber was grown by Bedner Growers, throw it away. When eating out over the next week, ask if cucumbers were from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc.
-
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received potentially contaminated products, including wholesale products, should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
-
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating potentially contaminated cucumbers.
|
