Sunfed Produce, LLC recalls whole fresh American cucumbers because of possible health risks due to Salmonella

SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers because they may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to a DeCA internal recall notice from the Defense Commissary Agency's food safety office sent Nov. 27.

Salmonella can be potentially life-threatening, especially to infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. It can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella's most common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Salmonella's symptoms usually develop between eight to 72 hours after consumption of the contaminated food and last about four to seven days.

The Defense Commissary Agency's Health and Safety Directorate has publicized this recall to all its stores. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The whole fresh American cucumbers were sold by SunFed and other importers and shipped to customers located in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

The following affected product was sold between Oct. 12 through Nov. 26:

• SunFed whole fresh American cucumbers, all sizes: packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the "SunFed" label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower's name, "Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.,"
• SunFed whole fresh American cucumbers, individual: packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the "SunFed" label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower's name, "Agrotato, S.A. de C.V.," and may also have a PLU sticker.

SunFed initiated this recall after the US Food and Drug Administration notified SunFed that the cucumbers described above were associated with reported salmonellosis illnesses between Oct. 12 through Nov. 15.

No other products sold by or farms supplying to SunFed are implicated in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting SunFed's recall hotline (888) 542-5849, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.