Cucumber-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Dozens Across 18 States

By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 — A growing salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers has made at least 45 people sick across 18 states, U.S. health officials have warned.

The cucumbers came from Bedner Growers, a Florida-based company, and were distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Associated Press reported.

The tainted cukes were sold in stores between April 29 and May 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. 

They were used in restaurants, hospitals and on cruise ships.

At least 16 people have been hospitalized. Some of the illnesses were reported by passengers on six cruise ships that left from U.S. ports earlier this spring.

More people than reported are likely sick, health officials warned, adding that the outbreak may spread to more states.

In response to the outbreak, several companies have recalled products, including whole cucumbers and foods that contained cucumber such as sandwiches, salads and salsas. Target stores issued a large recall, which included salads, veggie rolls and cucumbers.

The current outbreak was discovered during a follow-up to a 2024 salmonella outbreak that sickened 551 people and sent 155 to the hospital in 34 states and Washington, D.C., The Associated Press reported.

That earlier outbreak was traced back to untreated canal water used at farms run by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.

As part of this new investigation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found salmonella bacteria on a batch of cucumbers from Bedner Growers at a Pennsylvania distribution center. 

That strain matched the one making people sick now. Investigators also found other strains of salmonella in the same sample, and these are now being checked against samples in a federal illness database, The Associated Press added.

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause serious food poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, May 30, 2025

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