Recalled Vegetables Sold In Florida Pose 'Fatal Health Risk'

FreshStart Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida recently recalled whole cucumbers sold across various states due to possible bacterial contamination. According to the United States Food & Drug Administration , Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. cucumbers shipped to retailers across the country from May 17, 2024, to May 21, 2024, have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Defined by the CDC as a "bacteria that can make people sick with an infection called salmonellosis," Salmonella is responsible for a slew of symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and in serious cases, arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis. Salmonella bacteria are typically transmitted through food or the environment and can be potentially fatal depending on your health status and age.

The recalled cucumbers in question were sold to "retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia."

The FDA noted that the recall does not pertain to mini cucumbers and English cucumbers, rather, the brand's large cucumbers that are "dark green, approximately 1.5 - 2.0 inches in diameter, and 5-9 inches long." Officials have urged customers who purchased this product to throw it away and avoid consumption.

Consumers with questions should call Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc at "1-888-364-2993, M-F, 8:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. EDT." To see photos of the recalled product and to read the full recall visit FDA.gov .