CDC Warns To Avoid This Product After Cruise Ship Salmonella Outbreak

A Florida-based grower is recalling cucumbers because they are linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 26 people in 15 states.

Bedner Growers, Inc. has recalled cucumbers sold between April 29 and May 14 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and the elderly.

The recalled cucumbers were sold directly to consumers at the three Bedner’s Farm Fresh Markets locations in Florida: Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach.

"Because the recalled cucumbers do not bear any stickers or other labeling, customers should discard and not consume any cucumbers that were purchased at these locations between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025," the recall notice said.

The cucumbers are linked by the Food and Drug Administration to a Salmonella outbreak that has resulted in 26 illnesses in AL, CA, CO, FL, IL, KS, KY, MI, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, and VA.

The recalled cucumbers also were sold to a wholesale distributor, which has been directed to further contact its customers with recall instructions, health officials said. Specific locations on where those products were sold were not immediately available.

Illnesses Linked To Cruise Ships

The outbreak has sickened more than two dozen people from across more than a dozen states, and is linked to cruise ships.

Seven sick people reported taking a cruise during the seven days prior to becoming sick, the CDC said. They departed their cruise from locations in Florida. The people who fell ill were aboard five different cruise ships that departed between March 30 and April 12, the CDC said.

The cruise ship operator and destination of the journey was not revealed.

According to health officials, illnesses started on April 2. Of the 23 people with information available, nine have been hospitalized.

"Sick people on cruise ships reported eating cucumbers while on board. Three people traveled on the same ship," according to the CDC.

No deaths have been reported, the CDC said.

Of those who fell ill, 77 percent are female and 23 precent are male, according to CDC data.

"The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses," the CDC warned.

CDC Warns Not To Buy These Cucumbers

The CDC warned: "Businesses should not sell or serve whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Inc. between April 29, 2025 to May 19, 2025.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting Bedner Growers, Inc. at 866-222-9180, M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Bedner Growers, Inc. is conducting this recall in coordination with the FDA.

Same Grower Linked To Last Year's Outbreak

The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection in April to a 2024 outbreak that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. In that outbreak, investigators found salmonella bacteria linked to many of the illnesses in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.

In the current outbreak, officials found salmonella bacteria from samples on the farm that matched samples from people who got sick.

Health officials are investigating where the potentially contaminated cucumbers were distributed. Several people who fell ill ate cucumbers on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida, according to the CDC. Organic cucumbers are not affected, officials said.

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The Associated Press contributed reporting.