Cucumber Recall Update As FDA Awards Highest Risk Level

Recalled whole cucumbers produced by Delta Fresh of Arizona have been given a risk classification warning by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Why It’s Important While salmonella poisoning isn’t usually life-threatening, it can pose a serious risk for more vulnerable patients, including people under 12 months old, over 65 years old or with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, salmonella can enter the bloodstream, leading to severe conditions—such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis—that may require a stay in hospital. A stock image of a chopped cucumber on a board. A Class I risk classification has been awarded by the FDA. A stock image of a chopped cucumber on a board. A Class I risk classification has been awarded by the FDA. GETTY What To Know In November, 6,930 cases of whole cucumbers produced by Delta Fresh were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination. The impacted products have now been given a Class I risk classification by the FDA as of January 2, 2025. Newsweek has contacted Delta Fresh for comment and clarification via the contact form on its website outside of regular working hours. A Class I recall, the highest risk level, is issued when there is a “reasonable probability” that the use of or exposure to a product could “cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” According to the FDA website, the cucumbers bear “no individual packaging, labeling, PLU, or other identifying information.” However, cases of the products bear a sticker with the grower’s name followed by “AGROTATO, S.A. DE C.V.” The product was distributed in eight states: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Texas. The Cleveland Clinic reports that more than 1 million people in the U.S. contract salmonella every year. Common symptoms include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, headaches and fever, appearing anywhere from six hours to six days after exposure. These infections are usually mild, and most people recover within a few days without needing medical treatment. In some cases, those in at-risk groups—people under 12 months old, over 65 years old or with weakened immune systems—may require hospital treatment. What People Are Saying Lisa R. Robinson, vice president of global food safety and public health at Ecolab, previously told Newsweek: “Foodborne diseases can be quite serious—even deadly. The challenge is that the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness are all naturally occurring. Salmonella and E. coli, for example, can be found in the gut biome of chickens and cattle. Cronobacter and listeria are even more present—they can be found in soil and fields, so they’re easily tracked from one environment to another.” What’s Next The FDA notice also indicates the recall is related to a wider salmonella outbreak, though it does not provide any additional details. It is unclear if it is associated with a multistate outbreak of cucumber products from numerous sources reported by the FDA in November 2024.