The FDA is detaining imports of cucumbers from a Mexican company. The vegetables were linked to salmonella illnesses in 18 states including Illinois and Wisconsin. The alert means the U.S. won't accept imports until the company can prove its cucumbers are safe.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
- A total of 73 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 18 states.
- 27% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
- State public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness.
- Preliminary information indicates that consumption of imported cucumbers is the likely source of infection for the ill persons.
- On April 24, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration placed Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Miracle Greenhouse of Culiacán, Mexico on Import Alert
.- Cucumbers from these two firms will be denied admission into the United States unless the suppliers show that they are not contaminated with Salmonella.
- Currently, there is no evidence that contaminated cucumbers supplied by Daniel Cardenas Izabal and Miracle Greenhouse are still on the market.
- Due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported, additional ill persons may be identified.
- Consumers and retailers should always follow safe produce handling recommendations.
- CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods eaten with before becoming ill.