Salmonella bacteria present in cucumbers from two Mexican growers has made 73 people sick across 18 states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria was found in cucumbers from Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Miracle Greenhouse, two produce suppliers based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
The cucumbers were then shipped all across the U.S. by Arizona-based company Tricar Sales to various grocery stores and restaurants. The Food and Drug Administration has placed an import ban on the cucumbers. The CDC says "there is no evidence that contaminated cucumbers are still on the market."
About a quarter of the people affected have required hospitalization due to salmonella. There are no reported deaths from the outbreak. People in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin have been infected, with California having the majority of the cases.
Salmonella is often found in eggs, raw chicken and ground meat products because the bacteria lives in the gut and other organs of animals. However, produce has been increasingly linked to outbreaks, as the bacteria can attach itself to plants during the handling, bagging and shipping process.
Although the CDC states all tainted cucumbers are now off store shelves, people can take several days to show symptoms of the disease.
"Due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported, additional ill persons may be identified," the CDC said in a statement.
Symptoms of salmonella food poisoning include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. People usually become ill within 12 to 72 hours after eating salmonella-contaminated food, said the CDC. The illness can last four to seven days and most people can recover without medical intervention. Those with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly or pregnant women, should be especially cautious.
The CDC recommends all food products be thoroughly cleaned prior to consumption.
