The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and health officials in several states are investigating a multistate Salmonella infection outbreak linked to whole cucumbers grown in Florida and shipped around the country.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, health officials have recalled whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Inc. between April 29, 2025, and May 19, 2025.
As of Monday, 26 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Cases have been reported in 15 states. Nine people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.
Several people reported feeling ill after being on cruises that departed from Florida.
Which products were impacted?
The outbreak is linked to whole, nonorganic varieties. Cucumbers may have been sold individually or in smaller packages and may be within shelf life for the rest of this week.
Cucumbers were distributed to stores, restaurants, and other facilities. The FDA is working to determine where potentially contaminated products were distributed.
Businesses that purchased whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Inc. between April 29 and May 19 should not sell or serve them and should notify their customers of the potential health concern, health officials said.
Illnesses were reported in the following states:
Alabama
California
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
Additional information regarding the outbreak can be found here.
What if I bought whole cucumbers recently?
If you have whole cucumbers at home and don’t know where theyre from, throw them out. You should also wash and sanitize surfaces and items that they may have come in contact with.
If you experience severe symptoms of Salmonella, such as diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F, or diarrhea that doesn’t improve after three days, contact a healthcare provider. Most people recover within a few days.
Why does this sound familiar?
This is not the first time that produce grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak.
A 2024 investigation found that cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc. and Thomas Produce Company, of Boca Raton, Florida, were likely sources of a Salmonella outbreak that resulted in 551 illnesses across 34 states and the District of Columbia.
As part of a follow-up investigation, the FDA said it collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers, Inc. in April 2025. The sample was positive for Salmonella and matched recent clinical samples of sick individuals impacted by the current outbreak.
Fast Company has reached out to Bedner Growers for comment. We will update this post if we receive a response.
