Sunday, December 1, 2024

Salmonella Outbreak Due to Whole Cucumbers; Product Recalled

CDC, FDA, and state partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections that has linked to cucumbers. Epidemiologic and traceback data show that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC. may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick.

As of November 26, 2024, a total of 68 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 19 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 12, 2024, to November 16, 2024. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Fast Facts
Cases: 68
Hospitalizations: 18
Deaths: 0
States: 19

SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name, “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.,” (photos below). The recalled cucumbers were sold between October 12, 2024, thru November 26, 2024, and are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. SunFed initiated this recall after the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) notified SunFed that the cucumbers described above were associated with reported salmonellosis illnesses between October 12 – November 15, 2024.

The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers located in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, & Ontario. The cucumbers would have reached consumers through foodservice and retail outlets that may be located in states other than those listed above.

CDC Food safety alert
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/cucumbers-11-24/index.html
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers

Investigation status: Open
Recall issued: Yes
Epidemiologic and traceback information show that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC. may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick. SunFed Produce, LLC. has recalled cucumbers.
Fast Facts
Cases: 68
Hospitalizations: 18
Deaths: 0
States: 19
November 29, 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 Typhimurium infections.

Epidemiologic and traceback data show that cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC. may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick.

Epidemiologic Data
As of November 26, 2024, a total of 68 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 19 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 12, 2024, to November 16, 2024. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. 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
Information
Age  n=68) Range from <1 to 98 years  Median age of 27
Sex  (n=68)  66% female  34% male
Race  (n=39)  85% White  10% African American/Black  5% Asian
Ethnicity  (n=42)  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 33 people interviewed, 27 (82%) 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.

CDC and states identified six illness sub-clusters at two assisted living facilities, three school districts, and one restaurant. An illness sub-cluster is a group of unrelated people who all ate at the same location or event, such as a restaurant, long-term care facility, or school. Investigating sub-clusters can help identify a food item eaten by all the sick people that could be the source of the outbreak. Cucumbers were served at these six sub-cluster locations.

Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be 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 suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

WGS analysis of 40 people's samples did not predict resistance to any antibiotics. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.
 
People reported eating cucumbers at different restaurants and sub-cluster locations or buying cucumbers from multiple stores. FDA's traceback investigation identified Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico as a common grower of cucumbers.

Public Health Actions
On November 27, 2024, SunFed Produce LLC. recalled cucumbers. SunFed is also contacting each of its direct buyers to advise them of the recall. CDC advises people not to eat and businesses not to sell or serve recalled cucumbers. FDA continues to work with additional importers that received cucumbers grown by Agrotato S.A. de C.V.

FDA Outbreak Notice
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-cucumbers-november-2024
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (November 2024)
Do not eat, sell, or serve cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico; including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC.
Current Update
November 29, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico.


As of November 26, 2024, a total of 68 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 19 states. Of the 50 people for whom information is available, 18 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Of the 33 people interviewed, 27 (82%) reported eating cucumbers.


On November 27, 2024, SunFed Produce, LLC initiated a voluntary recall of all sizes of American/slicer cucumbers that were grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. SunFed Produce, LLC distributed recalled products to retail and foodservice customers in AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI. Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states.

FDA is working with SunFed Produce, LLC and their direct customers to determine if additional downstream customer recalls are necessary. FDA is also working with additional importers that received cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sunfed-produce-llc-recalls-whole-fresh-american-cucumbers-because-possible-health-risks-due
Sunfed Produce, LLC Recalls Whole Fresh American Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risks Due to Salmonella
Summary
Company Announcement Date: November 27, 2024
FDA Publish Date: November 28, 2024
Product Type: Food & Beverages Produce
Reason for Announcement: Potential Foodborne Illness/Salmonella
Company Name: SunFed Produce LLC
Brand Name: SunFed
Product Description: Whole cucumbers

Company Announcement

Rio Rico, AZ (Nov. 27, 2024) - SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name, “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.,” (photos below). The recalled cucumbers were sold between October 12, 2024, thru November 26, 2024, and are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. Symptoms of salmonellosis usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4 to 7 days.

The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers located in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, & Ontario. The cucumbers would have reached consumers through foodservice and retail outlets that may be located in states other than those listed above.

SunFed initiated this recall after the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) notified SunFed that the cucumbers described above were associated with reported salmonellosis illnesses between October 12 – November 15, 2024. SunFed is also contacting each of its direct buyers to advise them of the recall. No other products sold by or farms supplying to SunFed are implicated in this recall.

The individual whole American cucumbers may also have a PLU sticker in the form of the attached picture.

Consumers should take the following actions:

Check to see if you have recalled whole fresh American cucumbers (photo below)

Anyone with the recalled product in their possession should not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products. We also encourage them to clean and sanitize surfaces that could have come into contact with the recalled product to reduce cross-contamination.

Recalled products should be thrown out or destroyed so they may not be consumed or returned to the point of purchase.

Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled product are advised to contact their retailer.

If you think you have consumed a recalled product and do not feel well, contact your healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting SunFed’s recall hotline (888) 542-5849, M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. MST.

“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 Craig Slate, President at SunFed. “Here at SunFed, food safety and consumer health and wellness have been our priorities for more than 30 years. We require all of our growers to strictly comply with the FDA food safety requirements.”

No comments:

Post a Comment