SHOPPERS have been issued an urgent warning to throw out any items that feature in an extended list of recalled vegetable products.
It comes after dozens of people across the country have fallen ill in a worsening Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers and prepared food items.
A slew of major retailers have been impacted after several companies have issued further recalls in a bid to protect consumers.
Stores include giants like Kroger, Walmart, Harris Teeter and Target.
Health officials announced on Friday that 45 individuals across 18 states have been affected by salmonella poisoning, with at least 16 requiring hospitalization.
No fatalities have been reported, but officials believe the actual number of those affected is likely much higher, and the outbreak could be more widespread than currently identified across 18 states.
The source of the salmonella outbreak has been traced back to contaminated cucumbers distributed by Bedner Growers, a company based in Florida, which were sold from April 29 to May 19.
Bedners distributes its produce not only to retailers but also restaurants, cruise ships and hospitals.
Officials reported how a number of individuals across six different cruise ships that left US ports between the end of March and beginning of April all fell ill.
The recall impacts not just whole cucumbers but also products containing the vegetable such as sandwiches, sushi, salads, and other prepared food items.
Bedner Growers was previously linked to a salmonella outbreak last year that sickened 551 people and hospitalized 155 across 34 states.
Investigators linked many of the illnesses to untreated canal water used at farms ran by Bedner and the Thomas Produce Company.
The most recent outbreak was detected when Bedner had a follow-up inspection last month.
This sparked an initial product recall on May 19 for cucumbers sold straight to shoppers at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market which has now been widely expanded by companies that are supplied by Bedner.
The FDA said that all illnesses reported and investigated so far have been linked to cucumbers produced by Bedner and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales.
A spokesperson for Fresh Start Produce Sales said the company “is committed to protecting public health and helping Bedner Growers with its recall,” per NBC News.
At the time of writing, illnesses linked to the Salmonella outbreak have been reported in the following states:
- Alabama
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- North Carolina
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Salmonella particularly impacts the elderly, children under the age of five and those who have compromised immune systems.
These people are more likely to suffer severely as a result of the bacteria that can cause death in extreme cases.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, fever, and vomiting.
These can set in between six hours and six days after infection, according to the CDC.
The CDC warns that it is “a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide.”
Anyone who thinks they have any of the impacted products should throw them away or return them to the store for a full refund.
The FDA and CDC advises that all surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated items are washed and sanitized with hot and soapy water.
An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing.
What stores have issued recalls and what products are affected?
Target:
- Over 40 items are included in the Target recall which is made up of regular cucumbers, chicken salads, and sushi boxes – the full list can be viewed here.
Walmart:
- Marketside cucumber slices between May 13 and 20 plus any with the UPC 62969 and date codes up to May 24, 2025 – more details here.
Harris Teeter:
- Cucumbers – UPC 20406200000
- Large Vegetable Tray – UPC 7203689327
- Small Vegetable Tray – UPC 7203689328
Kroger:
- Kroger has recalled around 50 cucumber products, many are sushi rolls and platters – a full list can be seen here.
Publix:
- Loose cucumbers sold between May 14 and May 20
- Watermelon Onion Feta sold between May 17 and May 23
- Spinach Salads sold between May 17 and May 23
- Garden Salads sold between May 17 and May 23
- States: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
PennRose Farms:
- Over 1,150 cases of repackaged cucumbers were recalled
- Any cucumbers in five-pound mesh bags with Restaurant Depot and PennRose Farms logos dated between May 2 and May 5.
- UPC code 841214101714, and lot numbers (48-122, 48-123, 48-124, 48-125).
- Distributed to New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC:
- Marinated Cucumber Salad, 16oz
- Marinated Cucumber Salad, 36oz
- Marinated Cucumber Salad Bulk, 5lbs
- All dated between May 11 and May 26 and sold in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
Albertsons-owned companies:
- Authentic Greek Salad: UPC – 29307000000– 00901 (Sell thru May 23 – May 24)
- Readymeals Greek Salad: UPC – 29248300000 (Sell thru May 20 – May 24)
- Greek Salad: UPC – 29232900000 (Sell thru May 20 – May 24)
- Affected stores: Shaw’s, Safeway, Star Market, ACME, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market
- States: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C
Big Y Foods:
- Any made-to-order small sub, large sub, 30″ Super Sub, wrap or Panini bought on May 20 or May 21
- States: Connecticut and Massachusetts
- Full list of strores here.
JFE Franchising Inc:
- A wide range of items including salads, vegetable trays, noodle bowls, and sushi.
- Sold under brand names including Snowfruit and Roundy’s
- A full list of affected products here
- States: Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York
The Coastal Companies:
- 17 products including salads, salsas and ready-to-eat food
- Distributed between May 6 and May 21
- Full list here
- States: Washington DC, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont, North Carolina
Supreme Service Solutions LLC:
- Vegetable trays, Vegetable packs, Salads
- Dates: May 8 to May 21
- States: Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan
- Full list here
