FDA Releases Most Likely Causes of Florida Salmonella Outbreak

Batches of recalled cucumbers have been connected to an outbreak of salmonella earlier this year, and untreated canal water in Florida is believed to be the culprit. 

Cucumbers and Salmonella

A nationwide outbreak of Salmonella has been linked to batches of recalled cucumbers and their exposure to untreated canal water, according to a lengthy investigation by public health officials.

CDC Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the news in an official update on Wednesday, sharing that hundreds had fallen ill due to salmonella contamination.

Mass Sickness in June

The investigation, carried out by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration, was launched in June when nearly 200 people became sick, and 129 of those people reported eating cucumbers prior to their illness. 

More Cases Reported

By July 2 the investigation found 449 people who had fallen sick due to contamination from one of two strains of salmonella, most of which were linked to cucumber batches from two Florida-based suppliers: Bedner Growers of Boynton Beach and Thomas Produce Company of Boca Raton.

Across 31 States

The illnesses were reported in 31 states, as well as the District of Columbia. While 125 people were hospitalized due to infections, no fatalities connected to the outbreak were reported. 

Linked to Canal Water

One of the strains of salmonella was linked to a source of untreated canal water in Florida that had been used by Thomas Produce. Other strains were detected in samples of soil and water from both farms. 

Another Water Source

The FDA released an update of its own, confirming that matching salmonella strains had also been found in untreated canal water located near a Bedner Growers site in Palm Beach County. 

Thomas Produce Denies the Connection

While Bedner Growers has not publicly responded to the update, Thomas Produce has denied that its cucumbers caused or were directly connected to the salmonella cases.

No Evidence of Contamination

Instead, the business – which is also located in Palm Beach County – claimed that it had only been implicated because a sample from one of its irrigation canals tested positive for one of the salmonella strains, but there was no evidence of contamination in any of its products.

Customer Letter Addresses the Announcement

“Our farm did not have a positive test result for Salmonella Braenderup or any other strain of Salmonella on any of our packed products,” Thomas Produce claimed in a customer letter on August 14.

Packing Facility Tested Negative

It went on to claim that its packing facility had been tested by the FDA and also tested negative for salmonella contamination.

Committed to Food Safety

“At Thomas Produce Company, our commitment to food safety is our top priority,” the letter stated. “We continuously monitor our production processes, follow best practices and comply with all regulatory requirements.”

Removed from the Shelves

The affected cucumber batches were shipped out in late May, but have since been removed from shelves, and neither farms are growing or harvesting at this time. The agency added that the farms were unlikely to be responsible for all 449 cases.

First Recalled on June 1

The first recall notice connected to the outbreak was published by the FDA on June 1. Florida supplier Fresh Start Produce Sales issued a full recall of all cucumbers sent to wholesalers and distributors in 14 states. 

Tested in Pennsylvania

The contaminations first came to the company’s attention when the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture tested a cucumber sample, which came back positive for salmonella contamination.

Not the Same Strain

They alerted Fresh Start Produce, however, the FDA later found that the strain of salmonella detected in Fresh Start’s cucumbers was not the same strain linked to the outbreaks.

Underreported Cases

While the affected cucumbers were linked to 449 cases, the CDC noted that the actual number of sick people is likely much higher due to underreporting. The current number only accounts for people who were tested at medical centers. 

Low Risk to the Public

Due to mass recalls, both the CDC and FDA have now confirmed that the product risk to the wider public is now low.

Salmonella Risk

While most people who contract salmonella will usually recover without treatment, the bacteria can sometimes enter the bloodstream and create serious infections that require treatment and can lead to hospitalization.

Annual Cases

The US population sees around 1.35 million salmonella infections and more than 26,000 hospitalizations per year, according to CDC data. 

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