68 Suspected Infections After Eating Cucumbers Grown in Mexico
Costco-Sold Eggs Voluntarily Recalled
In the United States, cucumbers and eggs sold are suspected to be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, and 68 people who ate these cucumbers have shown infection symptoms, triggering an emergency response.
On the 30th of last month (local time), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that SunFed Produce, LLC, a food distribution company, began a large-scale recall on the 27th of last month after the possibility of cucumbers sold in the U.S. being contaminated with Salmonella bacteria was raised. Sixty-eight people living in 18 states in the U.S. who ate these cucumbers showed symptoms of Salmonella infection, and among them, 18 were reported to have received hospital treatment.
The problematic cucumbers were grown in Mexico, labeled with a sticker saying 'SunFed Mexico,' and were sold to general retail stores and food companies from October 12 to November 26. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether other importers who are clients of the Mexican agricultural company that grew these cucumbers have distributed additional products.
Additionally, eggs recently sold at the large discount store Costco have also been flagged for potential Salmonella contamination, leading the supplier to voluntarily recall them starting on the 27th of last month. The supplier is known as Handsome Brook Farms, and the recalled eggs are 24-count cartons sold under the name 'Kirkland Signature Organic Pasture Raised' at 25 Costco stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee since the 22nd of last month.
The recalled products are approximately 10,800 units with the 'Julian code 327' printed on the side of the plastic egg carton and an expiration date of 'January 5, 2025.' The company explained that other products are not subject to recall. The company also added that no cases of illness related to this recall have been reported so far. Consumers who purchased these eggs should return them to Costco stores for a refund or dispose of them immediately.
Salmonella bacteria are mainly found in raw eggs and undercooked chicken but can also be detected in fresh fruits and vegetables. Infection with this bacteria typically causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches. Most patients recover within four days to a week, but infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals may experience severe symptoms. Symptoms usually appear 6 hours to 6 days after consuming contaminated food.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. last November, 230 people were infected with Salmonella after eating Mexican cantaloupe melons, with three deaths reported. Cantaloupe melon is one of the representative melon varieties grown worldwide, characterized by its orange flesh.
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