A recall of prepared cucumbers over salmonella fears was classified as the highest possible potential health risk this week—after experts ruled that consuming the products could prove fatal.
Packages of cucumbers—that had been either chopped, sliced, or speared—had initially been recalled last month amid fears they may be contaminated with the potentially deadly food poising bug. Now, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have assessed the nature of the threat posed by eating the products and ruled the risk is severe.
The cucumbers were distributed across California by Fresno-based First Quality Produce. Newsweek has reached out by email to the company seeking further information and comment outside of usual working hours.
Why It Matters
The development is just the latest in a series of cucumber recalls, involving a host of producers and manufacturers, that have seen recalls nationwide. Products including cucumbers, such as sandwiches, wraps, and prepared supermarket salads, have also been yanked from the shelves.
A huge salmonella outbreak across the U.S., which sickened almost 450 victims and led to 125 hospitalizations last year, has been linked in part to potentially contaminated cucumbers. The FDA said that a cucumber crop from Florida was deemed to be "a likely source of illnesses in this outbreak; however, this grower does not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak."
There were no reports of illnesses linked to cucumbers from California-based First Quality Produce in FDA documents this week. However, the FDA has ruled that the recall affecting its cucumbers fell under the highest level of concern.
What To Know
The Fresh Quality Produce recall for its various cucumber products was initiated on December 2, 2024. However, the risk level was revealed this week when the FDA assessed the scale of the potential threat.
The reason given for the recall was "potential contamination with Salmonella," according to the FDA documents. The recall was listed as, "Voluntary: Firm initiated," and the products were "distributed within CA to 13 consignees. Product was not distributed to retail."
The specific products recalled were:
- Cucumber Coins (sliced cucumbers) under the brand name "Snack Buddies", which were packed in various sizes: 1.25-oz, 2-oz, 2.16-oz, 2.25-oz, 2.6-oz, 3-oz, and 4-oz.
- Cucumber Coins in 5-lb plastic trays under the First Quality Produce brand.
- Cucumber Spears in 5-lb plastic trays under the First Quality Produce brand.
- Cucumber Diced in 5-lb plastic trays under the First Quality Produce brand.
On Monday, the FDA classified the First Quality Produce cucumber recall as a Class I health hazard, which means "there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."
There are three FDA recall classification classes in total, with Class I being the most severe warning, Class II meaning consumption "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences," and Class III stating the affected product is not likely to cause health problems.
The documents did not say how or why the potential salmonella risk was discovered, nor did they reveal whether anyone had fallen sick after consuming any of the company's cucumbers. Newsweek is seeking clarification.
Salmonella is a bacteria often responsible for food poisoning. Affected patients typically suffer from diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and can remain ill for up to a week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella poisoning isn't usually life-threatening, but it can be dangerous for more vulnerable patients, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
What People Are Saying
Lisa R. Robinson, vice president of global food safety and public health at Ecolab, previously told Newsweek: "Foodborne diseases can be quite serious—even deadly. The challenge is that the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness are all naturally occurring. Salmonella and E. coli, for example, can be found in the gut biome of chickens and cattle. Cronobacter and listeria are even more present—they can be found in soil and fields, so they're easily tracked from one environment to another."
What Happens Next
Health experts will continue to monitor cases of salmonella across the U.S. as they seek to investigate any food poisoning outbreak and trace its cause.
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