FDA issues urgent recall for cucumbers contaminated with deadly bacteria salmonella
On Tuesday, the FDA upgraded its June 16 alert to the highest level when it recalled 71 boxes of the vegetable from Fuentes Farms in McAllen, Texas.
Nearly 3,000lb of produce was potentially contaminated with a fatal form of the bacteria, which could cause food poisoning or death if the infection spread to the bloodstream or caused severe dehydration.
Other symptoms included diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which could be serious for young children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.
Fuentes Farms revealed that the recall affected 40lb boxes of cucumbers with the code 357.
The produce was sold by vendors at markets in the McAllen and Alamo areas of Texas.
If the cucumbers were handled by vendors and customers without taking proper hygiene into account, the bacteria could easily spread to other foods and people in the outdoor markets.
The FDA found the salmonella during a routine sampling of the company's produce in June.
Fuentes Farms had since stopped production and distribution of cucumbers as the FDA continued its investigation into the problem.
In a statement released by the FDA, Fuentes Farms said: 'Consumers who believe they may have purchased cucumbers from Lot #357 are advised to dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase.'
So far, no illnesses had been reported and health officials had not discovered any salmonella outbreaks linked to this recall.
Fuentes Farms noted that the cucumbers were distributed and sold from May 31 to June 3.
According to the FDA and the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, salmonella's one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses in the U.S., and produce-related outbreaks were often tied to contamination from water, soil or improper handling.
A 2017 study in Food Protection Trends found that unsafe handling of raw meat and unwashed fruit and veg significantly increased the risk of both E coli and salmonella.
Cucumbers were implicated in several outbreaks in recent years, though they're not as frequent a source as leafy greens or poultry.
According to experts, refrigerators could become a breeding ground for disease.
Professor Judith Evans from London South Bank University and researcher at the Quadram Institute Oleksii Omelchenko told news site The Conversation: 'Part of the problem is that many refrigerators lack an accurate, accessible way to monitor their internal temperature.
'On top of that, every time you open the door, warm air rushes in. The longer the door stays open - especially if you're lingering while choosing a snack - the more the internal temperature climbs toward room temperature, creating a more suitable environment for bacteria to thrive.'
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It's up to us to prepare them for warm outings and to be on the lookout for signs of overheating. -- For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
