Why food recalls are increasing
E.Coli, metal and even a dead bat have been found in recalled food. In fact, food recalls are increasing. Yet, that might actually be a good sign. Here’s why.
USA TODAY
A massive cucumber recall that affected products sold in Walmart, Costco, Wegmens and Albertsons is now also impacting some products sold at Kroger, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The cucumbers have been linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 68 people in 19 states so far, including 18 hospitalizations, according to the FDA.
Arizona company SunFed Produce recalled cucumbers sold Oct. 12-Nov. 26 in more than two dozen states – including at some Walmart, Wegmans, and Albertsons stores – and in parts of Canada because they may be contaminated with salmonella. Costco and Kroger also recently notified customers they sold some of the recalled cucumbers.
Epidemiologic and traceback data show that cucumbers grown by the produce company Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, may be contaminated with salmonella and may be making people sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last Friday. The FDA had also associated SunFed cucumbers with some salmonella infections, or salmonellosis.
“As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately acted to protect consumers. We are working closely with authorities and the implicated ranch to determine the possible cause,” said SunFed president Craig Slate in a press release last week.
Grocery stores affected by cucumber recall
Following an announcement of an expanded recall by the FDA Monday, Walmart announced it would be recalling cucumbers sold in certain Texas stores.
The cucumbers recalled are Walmart’s Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices sold between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26. According to the FDA, the sliced cucumbers were sold in 34 stores across Texas.
The FDA released a list of the following Walmart stores affected by the cucumber recall:
Walmart had previously alerted customers to the recall last Thursday and posted a list of select stores where the cucumbers had been sold. Those stores, the retailer said, were in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Additionally, JFE Franchising, Inc., Supreme Produce and Yummi Sushi recalled Snowfox, Snowfruit, Supreme Produce, and Yummi Sushi brand products containing the recalled cucumbers sold at Kroger stores in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas and Wyoming, and King Snoopers stores in Colorado.
Similarly, Wegmans issued a recall last Thursday alerting customers about potential salmonella contamination for seeded cucumbers purchased through Wednesday, Nov. 27. All potentially impacted cucumbers and products had been removed from store shelves, the retailer said.
Albertsons also issued a recall last Thursday of vegetable platters and trays (some with hummus), salad and lettuce mix bowls, and sliced cucumbers, the company said in a press release sent to USA TODAY. The products were sold Oct. 18-Nov. 27 at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb stores in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Costco posted a recall notice to its website Friday stating it was also affected by the cucumber recall. The wholesaler said customers should immediately examine their inventory and quarantine product subject to recall. Costco said the cucumbers are item #171067, Cucumber 6 ct., and were purchased between Nov. 12 and Nov. 27.
What states have been impacted by salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers?
The CDC says 68 people have been sickened in this salmonella outbreak, but there may be more sick people, because many recover without medical care and are not tested. Here are the number of cases by state, according to 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
The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers, then shipped to customers located in 26 states. However, the cucumbers may also have reached consumers through food service and retail outlets in additional states, the FDA said.
Here’s the list of states where recalled cucumbers were sold, according to the FDA:
- 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 also sold in these Canadian provinces:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Calgary
- Saskatchewan
- Ontario
Symptoms of salmonella infection
Salmonella is a bacteria that can enter the food production chain when the process isn’t sanitary and when workers handling food do not wash their hands, the FDA says. Salmonella can be spread via contaminated water errantly used to irrigate crops, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Symptoms of salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, usually occur between six hours and six days after exposure and may include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, the CDC says.
Severe infections may include aches, headaches, elevated fever, lethargy, rashes, and blood in the urine or stool. Some salmonella infections may become fatal.
Salmonella causes about 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC.
Earlier this summer, a salmonella outbreak linked to recalled cucumbers (not linked to SunFed) sickened at least 449 in 31 states, the CDC said. Other recent salmonella outbreaks have been linked to pet bearded dragons, backyard poultry and basil, the agency says.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
