UPDATE: January 28, 2016 at 9:42 a.m.
Remember that salmonella outbreak from September that was linked to cucumbers? Well apparently the vegetable is still sickening hundreds of people four months later.
In its first update since November, the CDC reports that the outbreak has now spread to 39 states including Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. In total, 888 cases have been confirmed, with 191 people hospitalized. Six people have died.
However these numbers could soon rise, as illnesses reported after December 21 may not have been included in this latest report. And so the recall still remains in full effect. Check your cukes!
UPDATE: September 25, 10:53 a.m.
Yet another death has been linked to the salmonella outbreak caused by cucumbers earlier this month. The latest CDC update, dated Sept. 15, reveals that a total of 558 people have been infected in 33 states. Of those who've fallen ill, 112 have been hospitalized.
The most jarring statistic is the median age of those who have fallen ill—just 16 years old. What's more, the majority of reported infections has occurred in children under the age of 18. Young children in particular are experiencing serious sickness, including Charlie Mills, 5, of Sandy, Utah, who had a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, stiff neck, and blood in his urine. According to Time, he tested positive for salmonella poona, the exact strain linked to cucumbers, after seeking care at his local hospital. His parents, Meghann and Jesse Mills, have since filed a lawsuit against the producer, Andrew & Williamson, with the held of Marler Clark, a food safety law firm representing 10 others affected by the outbreak.
UPDATE: September 10, 7:47 a.m.
More cases of salmonella linked to contaminated cucumbers have been reported. In Texas, a second person has died due to the outbreak, and even more people have fallen ill—with at least 70 hospitalized—pushing the total case numbers to 341 affected in 30 states.
The Seattle Times reports that most of the cases have occurred in California, where there are 72 people ill, and Arizona, where 66 have become sick. However the most chilling statistic comes from the CDC, which notes that more than half of the cases are children under the age of 18.
To prevent future illnesses and keep consumers safe, the CDC has sent out a firm, all-encompassing warning: "If you aren't sure if your cucumbers were recalled, ask the place of purchase, restaurant, or your supplier. When in doubt, don't eat, sell, or serve them and throw them out."
ORIGINAL POST: September 8, 10:18 a.m.
According to the FDA and the CDC, one woman in San Diego, CA, has died, and 300 people have gotten sick—53 of which have been hospitalized—after a massive salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers.
The affected cucumbers were grown in Mexico and were sold and distributed to 22 states by California-based company Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. The company has since recalled their "Limited Edition" pole cucumbers, sold between August 1 and September 3.
"This variety is often referred to as a "Slicer" or "American" cucumber. It has a dark green color. It typically has a length of 7 to 10 inches and a diameter of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. In retail, it is typically is sold in a bulk display without any individual packaging or plastic wrapping. "In food service, it is typically served as part of a salad," says the FDA.
The names of the stores and retailers that sold the produce have yet to be released, but the tainted cucumbers were distributed to the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
So far illnesses have been reported in 27 states, including New York. Symptoms of salmonella are nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If you think you've been infected with the bacteria, notify your doctor immediately.
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