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By Chloe Mayer
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A salmonella outbreak affecting dozens of states is now known to have sickened 449 victims and led to 125 hospitalizations.
The map below shows which areas of the country have been struck down by the potentially deadly food poisoning bug, with a swathe of 31 states plus the District of Columbia affected by the outbreak.
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Some of the salmonella cases have been linked by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a cucumber recall after a crop grown in Florida was deemed to be "a likely source of illnesses in this outbreak; however, this grower does not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak."
Bedner Growers Inc. had used untreated water from a canal to water the crops, according to the FDA, although the company denied this in a statement to Newsweek last week.
Salmonella is a potentially deadly food poisoning bug and there are more than 2,000 different strains of the bacteria. Affected patients typically suffer from diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, and can remain ill for up to a week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella poisoning isn't usually life-threatening, but it can be extremely dangerous for more vulnerable patients, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
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Salmonella cases linked to the most recent outbreak have been recorded in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
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The darker blue-shaded areas in the map below indicate that the state in question saw the highest number of sufferers, with between 35 to 60 cases. Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York were the worst-hit.
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The alarm was first raised at the end of May when officials revealed they were investigating a multi-state food poisoning surge involving two separate strains of salmonella. They named a cucumber wholesaler whose produce had been found to have a third strain of the salmonella bacteria, but it was initially thought there was no link to the other cases.
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Fresh Start Produce Sales voluntarily recalled cucumbers after spot testing by officials at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture discovered Salmonella Bareilly. The company issued a statement at the time saying: "We take food safety seriously and source from growers who share that commitment…We are continuing our internal investigation into why a…strain of salmonella was found in product from one supplier and how to prevent it in the future."
In mid-June, the CDC announced an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections, with 185 illnesses reported across 24 states. In addition, 196 people across 28 states and the District of Columbia had fallen sick with Salmonella Africana, with 68 requiring hospital treatment.
A CDC update last week revealed that there are now known to have been a total of 449 salmonella sufferers (from Africana and Braenderup strains of the bug) with 125 of those hospitalized. It means the number of patients forced to go to hospital almost doubled compared with its previous figures.
The FDA investigated the case alongside the CDC and the agencies subsequently traced the source back to Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Florida. They announced their findings on July 2.
The FDA said: "As part of the investigation, FDA conducted an on-site inspection at Bedner Growers, Inc., a grower that supplies Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc.
"FDA collected samples as part of this inspection and Salmonella Braenderup was detected in samples of untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers, Inc. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis determined that the Salmonella found in the water used by Bedner Growers, Inc. is a match to a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that is causing some of the illnesses in this outbreak. Additional types of Salmonella were detected in both soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. CDC and FDA are looking to see if these strains have caused illness in people...
"As of July 1, 2024, a total of 449 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia. Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup. Of the 188 people interviewed, 129 (69%) reported eating cucumbers."
The agency assured consumers that the risk is now over, although the investigation continues: "Bedner Growers, Inc.'s cucumber growing and harvesting season is over. There is no product from this farm on the market and likely no ongoing risk to the public. Additionally, this grower does not account for all the illnesses in the outbreak."
Bedner Growers said last week that they did not use untreated water on their crops.
"Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by recent salmonella outbreaks," a spokesperson for the company told Newsweek. "As a family-owned and operated fresh produce farm, Bedner Growers takes seriously the safety of the fresh vegetables we produce for our families, our community, and the region. We are committed to cooperating with state and federal regulators and appreciate the already swift and thorough investigation to determine the root cause of recent Salmonella outbreaks believed to be linked to cucumbers.
"We would like to emphasize that Bedner Growers complies with the Produce Safety Rule and used only potable water on its fresh cucumbers."
Newsweek reached out again to Bedner Growers by email on Tuesday seeking an update on the case and comment. An immediate response was not expected because it was outside of usual office hours.
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