Cucumber Lawsuit Update – The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg is currently assisting victims of Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks nationwide, including those injured in the recent outbreak linked to recalled cucumbers. Please contact our law firm 24/7, toll free at 1-877-934-6274, if you have a question regarding a food poisoning lawsuit related to recalled cucumbers. You can also contact our lawyers online by using the “Free Legal Case Evaluation Form” found on this page.
CDC OUTBEAK UPDATE – SALMONELLA CASE COUNT REACHES 671 CONFIRMED ILLNESSES
Salmonella Cucumber Outbreak, CDC Update of September 29, 2015. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that 671 confirmed cases of Salmonella Poona food poisoning have been reported across 34 states. This represents an increase of 113 illnesses since the CDC’s September 22, 2015, update. Alabama was the latest outbreak state to be added to the CDC’s list. Cucumbers distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce are the likely source of the outbreak.
The number of confirmed outbreak cases reported from each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Alaska (13), Arizona (112), Arkansas (9), California (164), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (22), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Minnesota (34), Missouri (10), Montana (14), Nebraska (5), Nevada (13), New Mexico (30), New York (5), North Dakota (3), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (19), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (9), South Dakota (1), Texas (33), Utah (51), Virginia (1), Washington (21), Wisconsin (38), and Wyoming (6).
One hundred and thirty-one (131) of the confirmed illnesses required hospitalization. Three deaths have been reported including 1 from Arizona, 1 from California, and 1 from Texas. The CDC also reported that 51% of those sickened are children younger than 18 years old. Available illness onset dates range from July 3, 2015 to September 21, 2015.
CDC Reports That Outbreak Case Total May Increase
In its update, the CDC stated that the outbreak is still ongoing. Because cucumbers have a 14-day shelf life and some individuals may not become sick until a week after eating a Salmonella contaminated food, it is not unexpected for the number of confirmed cases to increase after a food is recalled. Individuals may have consumed the contaminated cucumbers because they were unaware of the recall. In addition, it may take public health lab official 2 to 4 weeks to confirm that an illness is related to the outbreak.
ANDREW & WILLIAMSON FRESH PRODUCE CUCUMBERS ARE LINKED TO THE OUTBREAK PROMPTING MULTIPLE CUCUMBER RECALLS FOR SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported the following cucumber recall information:
Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce Cucumber Recall – On September 4, 2015, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce recalled all of its cucumbers sold under the “Limited Edition” brand label because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The cucumbers were shipped in black, green, yellow, and craft colored cartons which read “Limited Edition Pole Grown Cucumbers.” This variety is often referred to as a “Slicer” or “American” cucumber. It has a dark green color, and typically has a length of 7 to 10 inches and a diameter of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. In retail stores it may be sold in bulk display without any individual packaging or plastic wrapping. The cucumbers were distributed between August 1, 2015 and September 3, 2015.
Alaska Safeway and Carrs Recalls Deli Sandiches Containing Cucumbers – On September 8, 2015, Safeway announced a recall for its made-to-order deli sandwiches made with cucumbers produced by Andrew & Williamson and sold in nine Safeway and Carrs stores in Alaska, because the cucumbers may be contaminated with the bacterial pathogen, Salmonella. The recall was issued after public health officials determined that Andrew & Williamson fresh cucumbers are linked to a multistate Salmonella Poona outbreak. So far, 341 confirmed Salmonella cases and 2 deaths have been reported. Nine confirmed Salmonella outbreak cases have been reported in Alaska. Andrew & Williamson issued a recall for their fresh cucumbers on September 4, 2015.
Custom Produce Sales Recalls FAT BOY® Brand and Unlabeled Cucumbers – On September 11, 2015 Custom Produce Sales of Parlier, California recalled all of its cucumbers sold under the Fat Boy® label because the product may be contaminated with the foodborne pathogen, Salmonella. The recall covers Fat Boy® cucumbers marketed since August 1, 2015. Unlabeled cucumbers packed in black reusable plastic containers and sold in Nevada, as of August 1, 2015, are also covered by the recall.
The cucumbers subject to the above recalls were distributed in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. Further distribution to other states may have occurred.
Public health officials caution that consumers should not eat, restaurants should not serve, and retailers should not sell the recalled cucumbers. If you are not sure if cucumbers in your possession were recalled, ask the place of purchase or your supplier. When in doubt, do not eat, sell, or serve the cucumbers in question!
CALL ATTORNEY ERIC WEINBERG FOR A FREE SALMONELLA CUCUMBER LAWSUIT EVALUATION
If you or a loved one are diagnosed with a Salmonella food poisoning and you have a question regarding a potential cucumber lawsuit, you can request a free legal case evaluation by calling our lawyers, toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Our phones are answered 24/7. You may also contact a lawyer at The Weinberg Law Firm online, by submitting the food poisoning lawsuit case evaluation form found on this page.
