FDA links cucumber grower to outbreak of Salmonella infections

The FDA has named a second grower whose cucumbers were found to be a source of Salmonella in an outbreak that sickened 449 people.

Tests have confirmed that canal water used by Thomas Produce Co., based in Boca Raton, Florida, is contaminated with the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration has now also confirmed that Salmonella from canal water used by Bedner Growers Inc. from Boynton Beach, Florida, is a match for the Salmonella that made people sick.

The outbreak sickened 449 people in 31 states, with 125 patients hospitalized. The most recent patient to develop symptoms became ill on June 4. The growers are no longer producing cucumbers and it is believed that there are no longer any of the cucumbers in question in stores.

Based on the traceback information collected, Thomas Produce Co. and Bedner Growers Inc. cucumbers delivered to multiple service points where sick people reported eating cucumbers, according to an outbreak update from the FDA.

In addition to finding the outbreak strain in canal water used by the growers, the FDA has found Salmonella in the soil at the growing sites. The agency also found other Salmonella species not involved in the outbreak.

“Multiple other strains of Salmonella, unrelated to this outbreak investigation, found at Bedner Growers Inc., matched clinical isolates of disease at the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) database that took place in previous years. CDC and FDA are working to determine if other positive samples from Thomas Produce Company match historical clinical isolates,” the outbreak update said.

The number of people who became ill during this outbreak is likely much higher than the number of laboratory-confirmed patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that for every confirmed Salmonella patient, there are 29 patients who go undetected by medical providers. This is because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not tested specifically for Salmonella infection.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Anyone can become ill from a Salmonella infection. According to the CDC, infants, children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.

Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctor about possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria, because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can mimic other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of a Salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. However, in some cases, the diarrhea can be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop serious illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people become infected without becoming ill or showing symptoms. However, they can still spread the infections to others.

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