A foodborne illness outbreak traced to whole cucumbers has sickened 26 people in 15 states, federal health officials reported Tuesday. Nine patients have been hospitalized with Salmonella Montevideo infections linked to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc., a Boynton Beach, Florida agricultural operation.
The outbreak marks the second time in 12 months that produce from this farm has been connected to widespread bacterial contamination. Last year, cucumbers from the same facility were linked to 551 illnesses across 34 states.
Quick Reference: Outbreak at a Glance
Affected Products: Whole cucumbers distributed April 29 – May 19, 2025
States with Cases: 15 (Illinois and Ohio lead with 4 cases each)
Hospitalizations: 9 of 26 patients
Deaths: None reported
Source Farm: Bedner Growers Inc., Boynton Beach, FL
Distributor: Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc., Delray, FL
Geographic Spread and Patient Demographics
The CDC’s outbreak investigation has tracked cases from coast to coast. Illinois and Ohio each reported four infections, while Florida and North Carolina documented three cases each. Single or double cases appeared in Alabama, California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Patient ages range from 2 to 69 years, with a median age of 53. Women account for 77% of cases. Among 13 people interviewed by health investigators, 11 said they ate cucumbers in the week before getting sick – well above the 50% of Americans who typically consume cucumbers in any given week.
Seven patients had recently traveled on cruise ships departing Florida ports. These cruise ship food poisoning cases occurred on five different vessels between March 30 and April 12, with all affected passengers reporting cucumber consumption during their voyages.
Testing Confirms Environmental Contamination
FDA investigators found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo during an April 2025 inspection at Bedner Growers. This inspection was a follow-up to the farm’s involvement in a 2024 outbreak that sickened 551 people.
The 2024 investigation uncovered Salmonella in canal water used for irrigation at the Florida cucumber farm. Testing also found multiple bacterial strains in soil samples. The presence of the same pathogen responsible for the current outbreak during a routine follow-up inspection raises questions about the effectiveness of corrective measures taken after last year’s incident.
Laboratory analysis using whole genome sequencing confirmed that bacteria from sick patients matched the strain found at the farm. This genetic fingerprinting provides definitive evidence linking the illnesses to cucumbers from this specific source.
Recalled Products Lack Clear Identification
Many affected cucumbers reached consumers without labels, stickers, or any identifying information. Commercial buyers may have received products marked as “supers,” “selects,” or “plains,” but retail customers often purchased them from bulk bins or farmers’ markets with no way to trace their origin.
The FDA’s recall announcement specifically identifies these retail locations:
Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market stores (April 29 – May 14, 2025):
- Boynton Beach, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- West Palm Beach, FL
Cucumbers sold at these locations after May 14 came from different suppliers, as Bedner’s growing season had ended.
Water Sources Remain Primary Contamination Risk
Agricultural operations using canal water for irrigation face ongoing contamination challenges. Surface water can harbor bacteria from:
- Wildlife feces
- Runoff from nearby farms
- Storm water carrying pathogens
- Sediment where bacteria form protective biofilms
Once Salmonella becomes established in irrigation systems, standard chlorination treatments often prove ineffective. The bacteria can survive in canal sediments and equipment for extended periods, creating recurring contamination risks.
Current federal regulations require farms to test irrigation water for E. coli bacteria as an indicator of contamination. But Salmonella can persist in conditions where E. coli dies off, potentially giving false reassurance about water safety.
Health Information for Consumers
| Action Steps for Consumers |
|---|
| • Check when and where you bought whole cucumbers |
| • If purchased April 29 – May 19 and source unknown: discard them |
| • Clean all surfaces that touched the cucumbers with hot soapy water |
| • Contact your doctor if you develop symptoms |
Salmonella infection symptoms typically appear within 6 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food:
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Fever above 101.5°F
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
Most people recover in 4 to 7 days without treatment. Children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of severe illness.
The FDA’s produce safety guidance notes that washing can reduce but not remove bacteria from cucumber surfaces. Contamination that penetrates the porous skin or gets trapped under wax coatings resists removal by washing.
Industry Faces Repeated Contamination Events
Cucumber-related Salmonella outbreaks have become a recurring food safety challenge:
2013: 84 cases linked to Mexican imports
2014: 275 people sickened by cucumbers from Maryland
2015: 907 cases, 6 deaths from Mexican cucumbers
2024 (June): 551 cases from Bedner Growers
2024 (November): 113 cases from SunFed Produce
2025 (May): Current outbreak, 26 cases and counting
The pattern shows contaminated irrigation water as a common factor across multiple incidents. Poor product traceability consistently hampers targeted recalls and consumer protection efforts.
Economic Fallout and Legal Considerations
For Bedner Growers, a second major outbreak within 12 months creates substantial business challenges. Beyond immediate recall costs, the company faces potential Bedner Growers lawsuits from affected consumers, increased insurance premiums, and loss of commercial contracts.
The cucumber industry typically sees sales drop 20-30% after major recalls, affecting all producers. Retailers must manage product removal, customer notifications, and reputation concerns. Similar trust issues recently impacted other sectors, as seen when Rite Aid announced closing all NY stores amid financial pressures.
Regulatory Response and Future Prevention
The April 2025 detection of contamination during a follow-up inspection from the previous year’s outbreak has prompted calls for stricter oversight. Proposed changes include:
Water Safety: Mandatory treatment systems for farms using surface water sources
Inspection Frequency: Monthly visits for facilities with contamination history
Testing Protocols: Direct Salmonella testing rather than relying on indicator organisms
Traceability: Technology-based tracking from farm to retail point of sale
Enforcement: Operating suspensions for repeat violators
Some agricultural water sources may be unsuitable for produce irrigation without advanced treatment infrastructure. Farms in certain regions might need to transition to municipal water or install sophisticated filtration systems to continue operations safely.
Moving Forward: A Call for Change
The recurring nature of cucumber contamination incidents, particularly at facilities with documented problems, points to gaps in current food safety systems. Consumer vigilance remains important – checking recall notices, asking about produce origins, and supporting retailers who prioritize supply chain transparency.
The May 2025 outbreak adds another chapter to an ongoing food safety challenge. With 26 people sick and more cases likely unreported, the pattern of contamination at a facility already under scrutiny for a previous outbreak raises serious questions about enforcement and prevention strategies.
The salmonella outbreak prompts recall of cucumbers and containing products once again, making clear that protecting public health requires more than follow-up inspections and voluntary recalls after people fall ill.
