Cucumber Recall Map as FDA Issues Highest Alert in Four States

A map shows where whole cucumbers that have now been designated a Class I risk level by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were distributed.

The vegetables distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales were recalled in May due to the possibility that they were contaminated with salmonella.

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The recalled cucumbers were shipped between May 17th through May 21st to various locations across the country.

The Class I risk classification applies to four states: Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Other states where the product was also shipped but which do not have a Class I classification are Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The recalled cucumbers are dark green, approximately 1.5-2.0 inches in diameter, and 5-9 inches long, the FDA said.

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The agency noted that mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in the recall.

The FDA updated it to a Class 1 recall, the most serious level, which is issued when there is a "reasonable probability" that the use of or exposure to a product could "cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

Those in possession of any of the cucumbers are advised to destroy and discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund, the FDA said.

Consumers were advised to check with their place of purchase whether the recalled cucumbers were sold where they shop.

In an emailed statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson for Fresh Start Produce Sales said: "It is standard for recalls associated with any of the big 8 food allergens and a foodborne pathogen such as salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli Stec to be classified as Class I. In fact, it is so common that it would be surprising if the FDA did NOT classify a salmonella-caused recall as a Class 1."

"Regardless of the classification, the company has always taken the situation seriously and acted swiftly to initiate the recall and remove the product from the marketplace."

The spokesperson further noted that the recalled cucumbers have long expired and are no longer available for sale.

In a statement issued on June 12, the company said: "We take food safety seriously and source from growers who share that commitment. We are pleased that the Fresh Start cucumber samples are not linked to the current salmonella outbreaks."

The FDA had been investigating whether the cucumbers were linked to a wider salmonella outbreak which led to several people being hospitalized.

The agency determined that the affected cucumbers did not have the same strain of the bacteria as the one linked to the outbreak.

The voluntary recall was initiated by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture told the company that a product sample tested positive for salmonella.

The bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever in healthy people. In more rare cases, it can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, according to the FDA.

Young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that salmonella causes 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the United States every year.

The FDA has issued more than 500 Class 1 recalls this year.