Salmonella outbreak traced to Florida cucumber grower declared over

The Food and Drug Administration has completed its investigation into a multistate salmonella outbreak traced to a Florida cucumber grower, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the outbreak over.

The recalled products should no longer be able on the market, according to the FDA.

On May 19, Boynton Beach-based Bedner Growers recalled cucumbers sold directly to consumers at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market and to its wholesale distributor.

FDA and CDC traced the outbreak, which sickened 69 people in 21 states, to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Delray-based Fresh Start Produce Sales. Of the 35 people interviewed in the investigation, 29 — or 83% — reported eating or likely eating cucumbers.

The recalled cucumbers were sold directly to consumers at the three Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets locations in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach, according to the Bedner’s recall notice.

Recalls issued in response affected products sold at Walmart, Kroger, Roundy’s and Weis Market stores in several states.

The FDA found that an environmental sample collected during an inspection in April at Bedner Growers tested positive for salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from sick individuals. The inspection was part of a follow-up from an investigation into a 2024 salmonella outbreak that infected 551 people and hospitalized 155 in 34 states and Washington, D.C.

That investigation, led by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control, found Salmonella braenderup in samples of untreated canal water used by the grower.

Symptoms of salmonella, including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, usually begin showing up within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. At-risk individuals, such as children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, are likely to experience more severe symptoms.