A distributor of products from Florida has recalled batches of cucumbers sold in 14 states, including Ohio, between May 17 and May 21, due to concerns that they may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The cucumbers, shipped by Fresh Start Produce Sales from Delray, Florida, were sent in large cardboard boxes directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food distributors in 14 Midwestern and East Coast states.
These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The cucumbers subject to removal are dark green, with a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 inches and a length of 5 to 9 inches. Mini-cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in this ban.
The recall was initiated after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture informed the company that a Salmonella bacteria test came back positive, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA is conducting whole genome sequencing to determine whether this sample is linked to the ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, infections in young children, immunocompromised or elderly people, and individuals with weakened immune systems, reports the FDA.
Fresh Start Produce Sales has already notified directly the customers who received the recalled product from the company and asked them to remove it from sale.
The company stated that it is uncertain whether the cucumbers are still on the market, but everyone who owns the recalled product should not consume it. The cucumbers should be discarded or returned for a refund.
If consumers have questions, they can contact the company at 1-888-364-2993, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
"We also asked our direct customers to notify their clients about this recall," the company said. The company is working with the FDA, informing the federal agency about the recall process to ensure that consumers are properly informed.
