Recalled pickles have been linked to various salmonella outbreaks, health agencies warn

Cucumbers distributed in more than a dozen countries in the US and Canada are being recalled after 68 salmonella infections were reported. Health officials warn that it is possible that cucumbers with bacteria are in people’s refrigerators and should not be eaten.

SunFed Produce announced Wednesday that it is recalling fresh cucumbers shipped to restaurants and stores and sold from October 12 to November 26. The recalled products were in bulk cardboard boxes labeled SunFed or in plain white boxes or black crates with a sticker with the name. of the farmer, Agrotato, SA de CV Grown in Sonora, Mexico.

Pickles shipped to customers in 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, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Ontario. However, cucumbers are likely to reach consumers in other states, SunFed said.

As of November 26, 68 people in 19 states have been infected with the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak and 18 have been infected and hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The last day the illness was reported was November 16, the US Food and Drug Administration said in a statement on Friday.

Recovered cucumbers should be thrown out or destroyed and should not be eaten. People should clean and sanitize areas that have come into contact with returned products.

“These pickles may still be in your refrigerator, so check the labels on your pickles. If the sticker shows ‘SunFed Mexico’ as the place where your cucumbers were grown, throw them away or return them to the place you bought them,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a food safety alert sent out Friday.

In a statement, SunFed President Craig Slate said the company is “working closely with authorities and the affected farm to determine the probable cause.” Here at SunFed, food safety and consumer health and wellness have been our top priorities for more than 30 years. We require all of our growers to strictly comply with FDA food safety requirements. “

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea and bloody diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting that may begin within hours or days of ingesting the bacteria. Most people will recover with straightforward treatment but should seek immediate care from a healthcare provider if symptoms are severe, if symptoms do not improve after a few days or if there are signs of dehydration. Children, the elderly, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get seriously ill.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com