Outbreak Background
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with cucumbers from grower Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. As of November 26, 2024, 68 people across 19 states have been infected with the outbreak strain.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness in humans. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, appearing six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria. While most people recover without specific treatment, the infection can be severe, especially for young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Of the 50 individuals with available information, 18 have required hospitalization. Among 33 interviewed patients, 27 said they ate cucumbers. No fatalities have been reported to date.
On November 27, 2024, SunFed Produce, LLC initiated a voluntary recall of all sizes of American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato and sold from October 12, 2024 and November 26, 2024. The recalled product was sold by SunFed Produce and other importers and sent to customers in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
While distribution has been confirmed in these states and Canadian provinces, health officials caution that the product may have reached additional states beyond the current list.
The Food and Drug Administration is actively collaborating with SunFed Produce and their direct customers to assess the potential need for further downstream customer recalls.
The FDA continues to work with additional importers that received cucumbers from Agrotato. The investigation remains ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available.
Timeline
The first reported case of illness linked to this outbreak was on October 12, 2024 and the latest reported onset of illness was on November 16, 2024.
Location of Affected Individuals
- CA, AK, UT, WY, NE, IA, WI, IL, OH, PA, NY, NJ – 1 to 3 sick people
- OR, CO – 7 to 9 sick people
- WA, SD, TX, MA – 4 to 6 sick people
- MT – 16 sick people
The CDC and state health authorities have identified six illness sub-clusters across multiple locations. These sub-clusters were found in two assisted living facilities, three school districts, and one restaurant.
An illness sub-cluster is defined as a group of unrelated people who were present at or ate at the same location or event. Cucumbers were served at all six of these sub-cluster locations.
Demographics
The CDC said that officials collect a variety of demographic data from affected individuals during an outbreak of foodborne illness to help determine the source of the infection.
| Demographics | Information |
| Age (information from 68 people) | Range from <1 to 98 years old Median age of 27 years old |
| Sex (information from 68 people) | 66% female 34% male |
| Race (information from 39 people) | 85% White 10% African American/Black 5% Asian |
| Ethnicity (information from 42 people) | 90% non-Hispanic 10% Hispanic |
Laboratory and Traceback Findings
Public health investigators are utilizing the PulseNet system, “a national laboratory network that connects foodborne, waterborne, and One Health (a collaborative approach to optimal health outcomes that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and the shared environment) – related illnesses” to identify potential outbreak-related illnesses.
PulseNet maintains a national database of bacterial DNA fingerprints for foodborne illnesses. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on bacterial samples from ill individuals.
The WGS analysis revealed that bacteria from patient samples are genetically closely related. This genetic similarity suggests a common source of infection. Investigators examined samples from 40 individuals to assess potential antibiotic resistance.
The antimicrobial resistance analysis conducted through the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) found no predicted resistance to antibiotics in the bacterial samples.
Patients reported consuming cucumbers from various sources, including different restaurants, sub-cluster locations, and multiple retail stores. The Food and Drug Administration’s traceback investigation identified Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, as a common cucumber grower linked to the outbreak.
This is not the sole outbreak of Salmonella this year connected to contaminated cucumbers. This Summer, a Salmonella outbreak that affected over 400 people in 31 states was linked to untreated water at a Florida grower.
Commenting on this article, one national Salmonella lawyer said, “Any consumer with the recalled cucumbers should throw them away immediately and also ensure they thoroughly sanitize any other foods, surfaces, or utensils that may have come into contact with affected items.”
