Florida Cucumber Recall For Salmonella Affects 15 States

DELRAY, Florida – A multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections tied to whole cucumbers grown by the same Florida producer linked to an outbreak last year has sickened at least 26 people across 15 states, with nine hospitalizations reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No deaths have been reported as of May 19, 2025.

The CDC and FDA, in collaboration with state and local health officials, are investigating the outbreak, which has been traced to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. in Boynton Beach, Florida, and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida, between April 29 and May 19, 2025.

The agencies have advised businesses not to sell or serve these cucumbers and urged consumers to discard any cucumbers from these sources if their origin cannot be verified.

Illnesses began between April 2 and April 28, 2025, with cases reported in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Of the 26 confirmed cases, 77% are female, with a median age of 53, ranging from 2 to 69 years. Among the 13 individuals interviewed, 11 (85%) reported eating cucumbers, a significantly higher percentage than the 50% reported in the FoodNet Population Survey, strongly suggesting cucumbers as the source of the outbreak.

Notably, seven sick individuals reported taking cruises departing from Florida between March 30 and April 12, 2025, with three on the same ship. These individuals consumed cucumbers onboard, further linking the outbreak to the contaminated produce.

The FDA’s traceback investigation pinpointed Bedner Growers Inc. as the common grower.

During an April 2025 inspection at Bedner Growers, prompted by a prior 2024 outbreak involving Salmonella Africana and Braenderup, environmental samples tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo, matching clinical samples from ill individuals.

The CDC and FDA are concerned that contaminated cucumbers may still be within their shelf life, given the timing of reported illnesses.

Consumers are advised to check the source of their cucumbers and discard any that may have come from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales.

When dining out, individuals should inquire if cucumbers served are from these suppliers.

Retailers, restaurants, and distributors are urged to notify customers about the potential contamination, discard affected products, and thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the cucumbers. The FDA recommends extra care in cleaning bulk bins or displays to prevent cross-contamination.