Cucumbers are a staple in a lot of dishes. Most of us probably have cucumbers sitting in our fridge. So it’s quite alarming that some cucumbers that were released into public markets are testing positive for Salmonella.
Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. is recalling cucumbers because of a positive test for Salmonella. The Florida-based company is working together with the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Africana that has affected at least 141 people. So what should you look out for? Let’s look into the details of this product recall.
These potentially contaminated cucumbers were shipped between May 17 and May 21, 2024 to several states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. They were distributed in bulk cartons to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors.
The cucumbers in question are dark green in color, has measurements of about 1.5 to 2.0 inches in diameter and 5 to 9 inches in length. While they look like your typical cucumbers, it’s worth noting that mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are safe and not a part of this recall.
If you’ve purchased these cucumbers or suspect that you might have them in your household, you better make sure that you do not consume them. The best possible action is to dispose of them properly or return them to the place of purchase for a possible refund. If you’re still unsure, you can contact your retailer or the place you’ve purchased the cucumbers and ask them if the cucumbers they sold are part of the recall.
For more information or if you have additional questions, you can contact Fresh Start Produce Sales directly at 888-364-2993. The company has also reached out to their direct customers, asking them to remove the recalled cucumbers from sale and notify their customers of this recall.
Preventative Measures for Consumers
Prevention is always better than cure. But sometimes, things can get out of hand. So what can we do to prevent getting sick and keeping our food safe? You can start by following the right steps.
Proper Handling of Fresh Produce
Fresh produce has to be handled the correct way to avoid getting sick from them. Certain products, whether it’s meat, fruit, or vegetables, might require a certain way of preparing them. But generally, the best way is to start with washing all of them with water. You can use a clean brush for certain items that have hard skins. Next, you need to store them properly in clean, secure containers. Ideally, you should also keep the produce away from raw meat to stop germs or bacteria from spreading.
Checking for Recalls Regularly
Keeping up to date for recalls is one of the best ways to stay safe. You can check the FDA website often for updates. The FDA works hard to keep us from getting sick and does their best to stop other outbreaks.
People who are more vulnerable to certain illnesses, like children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with compromised immune systems, need to be extra careful. You should make use of the FDA’s resources for the latest news. You can also check reputable news sources for all the latest news regarding food safety. By doing this you can actually make a big difference in staying healthy.
To keep your family safe, learn and use food safety tips like this. Always keep up with the latest new and handle food safely. Doing so will drastically reduce the chances of you getting sick and will make sure that the food you eat will be safe.
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Recommended Actions
If you have cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc., the first thing you can do is to check if they’re part of the recall. In this case, knowledge is power; simply knowing and being aware if your cucumbers may be involved in this incident will keep you and those around you safe from Salmonella.
What to Do if You Have Recalled Cucumbers?
The simple answer is to just not consume them. You can dispose them properly by throwing them away or you can return them to where you bought them for a refund.
How to Identify Recalled Cucumbers
As mentioned above, these cucumbers are dark green and have diameters between 1.5 to 2 inches and a lengths of around 5 to 9 inches. They were also shipped to 14 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. If you’re in one of these states, make sure to be extra careful and check your cucumbers if they fit the description.
From The Club
Salmonella is one of the most dangerous bacteria that can cause serious health issues if it enters our body. The scary thing about it is that food infected with Salmonella will have no defining characteristics to set it apart. It looks just like ordinary food. With this product recall in mind, we should all take the extra steps and make sure the cucumbers we have at home are safe to consume. If you want to be safe, just avoid cucumbers altogether for a while until all this blows over. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Stay safe everyone!