Hundreds of cucumbers have been recalled after being contaminated with deadly bacteria, health officials warn.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have become sick with salmonella, a foodborne bacteria that affects 1.3 million Americans each year.
Of those, 125 have been hospitalized. However, the CDC noted that the actual number of sick people is likely much higher, as many recover without seeking medical help, meaning they are never tested.
The agency singled out two Florida growers — Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce — as the likely source of several illnesses, but not all. All of the affected products have been pulled from shelves and are no longer in season.
No deaths have been reported.
The CDC announced Wednesday that 449 Americans in 31 states have been sickened with salmonella from contaminated cucumbers.
Most of the diseases occurred in April and May, the beginning of the cucumber season.
CDC research shows that most patients became ill in April and May, the beginning of peak cucumber season.
Testing revealed that cucumbers were contaminated with Salmonella in untreated canal water used by one grower, as well as in soil and water collected from both growers’ farms.
Pennsylvania reported the most illnesses (60), followed closely by New York (57), Florida (52) and Virginia (43).
Salmonella is caused by eating food contaminated with animal feces. It typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after the initial infection, according to the CDC.
Most people recover within days, although the disease is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.
The CDC believes the current risk to the public is low.