Salmonella Alert: Kroger Recalls More Salads and Cucumber Trays

(NEXSTAR) — Additional salads and vegetable trays available at Kroger stores in nine states have been voluntarily recalled due to a multistate salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers.

Several recalls have been initiated after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration identified cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Inc. as the source of over two dozen illnesses in 15 states. At least nine individuals have been hospitalized.

The recalls have affected whole cucumbers; made-to-order subs, wraps, and paninis; fresh-cut cucumbers sold at select Walmart stores in Texas; veggie and sushi items sold at Kroger, Roundy’s, and Weis Market stores in 16 states; salads and salsa; and salads distributed to foodservice distributors and supermarkets in eight states.

Another recall, issued Wednesday, targeted fresh cucumber salads and vegetable trays sold at Kroger and its affiliated stores.

What salads, veggie trays have been recalled?

Sixteen products containing cucumbers that may have been contaminated with salmonella sold under the Supreme Produce label are being recalled, according to the FDA notice. They were all packaged in clear grab-and-go containers of varying sizes and purchased between May 8 and 21 this year.

The products and their UPC codes are listed below:

The FDA notes that labels will contain the address of the store where they were sold at.

The items were available at Kroger stores and its affiliated retail locations in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Specific stores were not listed.

No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported in connection with these products, according to the FDA.

If you have any of the above items in your refrigerator still, the FDA recommends discarding the product. Since they are all past their shelf life, you should not find any recalled products at a store near you, the agency added.

What is salmonella?

It’s caused by the salmonella bacteria, which the CDC estimates cause 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 in the U.S. yearly.

Salmonella infections are commonly associated with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. Symptoms can begin between six hours and six days after you’ve ingested the bacteria. Most people are able to recover without receiving treatment within four to seven days.

Illnesses may be more severe for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Some may require medical treatment or hospitalization, the CDC explains. Infections can only be diagnosed with a laboratory test of a person’s stool, body tissue, or fluids.

Where have salmonella cases been reported?

The CDC reports that 26 people have tested positive for salmonella across 15 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Nine of those cases have required hospitalization. Patients range in age from 2 to 69 years old.

Several people who fell ill ate cucumbers on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida, according to the CDC. 

Retailers should notify consumers who may have bought the tainted produce. If consumers don’t know the source of cucumbers, they should throw them away, officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.