Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Florida Cucumbers

Federal health officials announced on Tuesday that untreated water, employed by a Florida cucumber grower, is a highly plausible origin of the salmonella-induced food poisoning that affected almost 450 individuals across the United States during the spring.

Nevertheless, the grower in question neglects to acknowledge the complete scope of cucumber-related illnesses and the 125 hospitalizations that have been reported by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the period from late March to early June.

The presence of Salmonella has been detected in untreated canal water that is used by Bedner Growers Inc., located in Boynton Beach, Florida. This specific strain of bacteria has been linked to reported cases of illness in over 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C. Furthermore, after conducting additional analysis, officials from the FDA at the site have identified various other types of Salmonella in both soil and water samples.

Bedner Growers, a respected supplier, supplied Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray Beach, Florida, with their products. Subsequently, Fresh Start proactively initiated a recall of crates of cucumbers in late May upon receiving reports of illnesses associated with them. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that Bedner Growers also distributed cucumbers to multiple locations, where affected individuals reported either purchasing or consuming the produce.

According to Steve Bedner, owner of Bedner Growers, the canal water was utilized for subsoil irrigation and was not directly applied to the consumable portions of the cucumber plants. He further stated that this practice adheres to federal regulations and is widely accepted within the industry.

Initially, investigators stated the existence of two outbreaks of salmonella that could potentially be linked to cucumbers. However, these two outbreaks were consolidated into one due to various resemblances, such as the coincidence in timing and the nature of the food involved. According to the FDA, close to 70% of the affected individuals interviewed disclosed their consumption of cucumbers prior to falling ill. Notably, the investigation remains ongoing.

The cucumber growing and harvesting season at Bedner Growers has come to an end. According to the FDA, there is currently no remaining product from the farm available on the market, leading to the probable absence of any ongoing risk to the public.