– Salmonella outbreak in cucumbers
– Untreated water and salmonella outbreak in cucumbers.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
(AP) – The source of a salmonella food poisoning outbreak that affected nearly 450 people across the United States this spring has been traced back to untreated water used by a Florida cucumber grower, federal health officials revealed on Tuesday.
While the untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, Florida, was identified as a likely source of the salmonella contamination, it does not fully explain all the cucumber-related illnesses that were reported between late March and early June, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Salmonella strains found in the untreated canal water at Bedner Growers Inc. matched the bacteria responsible for some of the reported illnesses in over 30 states and Washington, D.C. Additionally, other types of salmonella were detected in soil and water samples taken from the site, FDA officials confirmed.
Bedner Growers supplied cucumbers to Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray Beach, Florida, which initiated a recall of cucumber crates in late May following the initial reports of illnesses. The cucumbers from Bedner Growers were also distributed to various locations where affected individuals reported purchasing or consuming the produce, the FDA stated.
Although the canal water was not used directly on the edible parts of the cucumber plants but for subsoil watering, owner Steve Bedner assured that the practice complied with federal regulations and was common within the industry.
Initially believed to be two separate outbreaks, investigators merged them into a single incident due to several commonalities, including the timing and food type involved. A significant number of those affected reported consuming cucumbers before falling ill, with nearly 70% of interviewed individuals linking their illnesses to cucumber consumption, the FDA disclosed. The investigation remains ongoing.
Bedner Growers have concluded their cucumber growing and harvesting season, with no remaining products from the farm in circulation, ensuring that there is no ongoing risk to the public, as confirmed by the FDA.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP holds full responsibility for all content.
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untreated water salmonella outbreak cucumbers sickened people US
water salmonella outbreak cucumbers sickened people US.
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