Bedner Growers, Inc. in Florida has been identified as the source of Salmonella contaminated cucumbers that have caused 449 reported cases of illness. FDA found the outbreak Salmonella strains in the canal water.
"FDA collected samples at the grower in Florida and identified Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water. WGS determined that the Salmonella found in the water is the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that made people in this outbreak sick. Additional soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. were positive for other strains of Salmonella. CDC and FDA are looking to see if these strains have caused illness in people."
"As of July 2, a total of 449 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia (see map). Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup strain. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to June 4, 2024 (see timeline). Of 360 people with information available, 125 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported."
CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/africana-06-24/index.html
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers
Posted July 2, 2024
Fast Facts
Illnesses: 449 (38 new Africana, 215 Braenderup new)
Hospitalizations: 125 (11 new Africana, 50 Braenderup new)
Deaths: 0
States: 31 states and the District of Columbia (1 new Africana, 26 Braenderup)
Recall: Yes
Investigation status: Active (first posted on June 5, 2024)
Outbreak Investigation Summary
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data show that cucumbers were contaminated with Salmonella and made people sick. Testing identified the Salmonella Braenderup strain in untreated canal water used by a grower in Florida. Cucumbers from this grower are no longer in season and any sold previously are no longer on shelves.
July 2, 2024
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections. Epidemiologic, traceback and laboratory data show that cucumbers were contaminated with Salmonella and made people sick.
CDC and FDA combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several similarities, including where and when illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people and the foods they reported eating before they became sick.
Epidemiologic Data
As of July 2, a total of 449 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia (see map). Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup strain. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024, to June 4, 2024 (see timeline). Of 360 people with information available, 125 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak (“n” is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Demographics InformationTable of demographic information (n is the number of people with information available)
Age
(n=447) Range from <1 to 94 years
Median age of 45
Sex
(n=445) 66% female
34% male
Race
(n=360) 84% White
11% African American/Black
<1% Native American or Alaska Native
3% Asian
0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
<1% Middle Eastern/North African
<1% reported more than one race
Ethnicity
(n=351) 90% non-Hispanic
10% Hispanic
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 188 people interviewed, 129 (69%) reported eating cucumbers. This percentage was significantly higher than the 50% of respondents who reported eating cucumbers in the FoodNet Population Survey—a survey that helps estimate how often people eat various foods linked to diarrheal illness. This difference suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating cucumbers.
Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may have been part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same type of food.
WGS analysis of bacteria from 214 people’s samples had no predicted resistance; bacteria from 235 people’s samples predicted resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, and tetracycline. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice.
FDA’s traceback investigation identified Bedner Growers, Inc., in Florida as a supplier of cucumbers in this outbreak. This one grower does not account for all illnesses in this outbreak.
FDA collected samples at the grower in Florida and identified Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water. WGS determined that the Salmonella found in the water is the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that made people in this outbreak sick. Additional soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. were positive for other strains of Salmonella. CDC and FDA are looking to see if these strains have caused illness in people.
Public Health Actions
Bedner Growers, Inc. in Florida, where the positive sample was collected, is no longer growing and harvesting cucumbers for the season.
Florida grower likely source in salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers, FDA, CDC say
Mike Snider
USA TODAY
July 2, 2024
The CDC and FDA say they have found a likely source for salmonella-tainted cucumbers that sickened more than 400 people in 31 states and the District of Columbia this spring: A Florida produce grower.
A multistate investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration has identified a Florida grower as a likely source in an outbreak caused by salmonella-tainted cucumbers.
Amidst the monthlong investigation – during which 449 people in 31 states and the District of Columbia have reported salmonella illnesses – salmonella found in untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Florida, matched the strain (Salmonella Braenderup) sickening some in the outbreak, the agencies said.
Additional salmonella strains were detected in soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, said the CDC and FDA, which are continuing its investigation to see if these strains caused illness in people.
Bedner Growers, the agencies said, supplies Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., of Delray, Florida, which on May 31 issued a recall of cucumbers grown in Florida that had been shipped to 14 states after some tested positive for salmonella.
There's no ongoing risk to the public because Bedner Growers' growing and harvesting season has ended and there are no cucumbers still in the marketplace, the agencies said, adding that Bedner Growers' produce does not account for all the illnesses reported in the outbreak.
In the outbreak, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup. The other strain in the outbreak is Salmonella Africana.
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