Hundreds of cucumbers have been recalled after being tainted with deadly bacteria, health officials warn.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have been sickened with salmonella, a foodborne bacteria that affects 1.3million Americans every year.
Of those, 125 have been hospitalized. However, the CDC noted that the true number of sick people is likely much higher, as many recover without seeking medical help, meaning they are never tested.
The agency pointed to two growers in Florida – Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce – as the likely source of several but not all illnesses. All affected products have been removed from shelves and are no longer in season.
No deaths have been reported.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have been sickened with salmonella from tainted cucumbers
Most illnesses were contracted in April and May, the start of cucumber season
The CDC’s investigation shows that most patients were sickened in April and May, the start of peak cucumber season.
Testing revealed that cucumbers were tainted with Salmonella in untreated canal water used by one grower, as well as soil and water collected at the farms of both growers.
Pennsylvania reported the most illnesses (60), followed closely by New York (57), Florida (52), and Virginia (43).
Salmonella is caused by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within days, though the illness is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.
The CDC believes the current risk to the public is low.
