This is the second outbreak linked to cucumbers from Bedner Growers in less than a year.
Major Salmonella Outbreak: Cucumbers Linked to 26 Illnesses in 15 States
Published on May 20, 2025
Be careful with your fresh cucumbers this week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a salmonella outbreak, and the source has been pinpointed as cucumbers from Bedner Growers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA need to keep investigating the outbreak, but we know that contaminated cucumbers were sold at restaurants and grocery stores through May 19, 2025.
What caused the outbreak?
This specific outbreak is still under investigation, so we don’t know how exactly the cucumbers were contaminated with salmonella bacteria. This is the second recent salmonella outbreak related to Bedner Growers.
Where is the outbreak concentrated?
This is a national salmonella outbreak. The CDC has confirmed illnesses in 15 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
So far, 26 people reported salmonella infections, and of those 26, nine were hospitalized. However, the number of cases in this outbreak is likely much higher. This is because most healthy people recover without going to the doctor and are never tested for salmonella.
How do I know if I have contaminated cucumbers?
It’s hard to know for sure. Your grocery store likely unboxed the cucumbers and sold them individually, with or without a label that has the grower’s name. The FDA is working to figure out exactly which retail locations (and restaurants) have the contaminated cucumbers, so we’ll update our story as we learn more.
What are the symptoms of a salmonella infection?
For most people, symptoms of salmonella start 12 to 72 hours after eating something that’s contaminated. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. If you ate cucumbers within the past three days and are experiencing any of these symptoms, go to the doctor.
What should I do next?
To stay safe and healthy, the FDA has four recommendations for people right now:
- Toss fresh cucumbers. Even if you don’t know for sure your cucumber is from Bedner Growers, throw it away.
- Clean your refrigerator. Use hot, soapy water to wipe down your refrigerator and throw out any food that may have come into contact with the cucumbers.
- Be cautious at restaurants. Over the next week, ask if cucumbers are from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales—or skip meals with cucumbers altogether.
- Call your doctor. If you have symptoms of a salmonella infection after eating cucumbers, it’s time to see your healthcare provider.
