DHH warn cucumbers still pose a threat

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The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals says three cases of salmonella poona are believed to have occurred in the state, linked to an outbreak occurring throughout the U.S.

None of the cases occurred in the DHH region that includes Terrebonne and Lafourche.

The agency is assisting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a recall of imported cucumbers that were distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.


The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified these cucumbers as the outbreak’s source.

“Throughout the U.S., there have been a total of 282 other cases, including one death,” a DHH statement reads.

DHH received notification of the possible outbreak late Friday night and began calling identified national companies with locations in Louisiana that may have sold or used the cucumbers. DHH officials confirmed that Red Lobster locations in Louisiana disposed of the product Friday.


Whole Foods locations in Louisiana removed potentially affected cucumbers from their shelves Saturday morning, DHH said.

Health officials advise that the risk of becoming ill after eating a cucumber from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce is low, however DHH recommends families take simple precautions to protect themselves.

Recalled cucumbers may be in


consumers’ homes, restaurants, and grocery stores.

• Consumers should not eat recalled cucumbers.

• Restaurants should not serve recalled cucumbers.


• Retailers should not sell recalled cucumbers.

• If you aren’t sure if your cucumbers were recalled, ask the place of purchase or your supplier. When in doubt, don’t eat, sell or serve them and throw them out.

DHH says that if you think you may have become ill from eating recalled cucumbers, contact your health care provider.


Most people infected with Salmonella develop signs and symptoms 12-to-72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria, including diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

The CDC says that since July 3, 285 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona have been reported from 27 states.

Fifty-three ill people have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported from California.


Fifty-four percent of ill people are children younger than 18 years.

“Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations have identified imported

cucumbers from Mexico and distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce as a likely source of the infections in this outbreak,” a CDC advisory reads, noting that 73 percent of people interviewed reported eating cucumbers in the week before their illness began. Eleven illness clusters have been identified in seven states. In all of these clusters, interviews found that cucumbers were a food item eaten in common by ill people.


The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency isolated Salmonella from cucumbers collected during a visit to the Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce facility.

On Sept. 4, 2015, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce voluntarily recalled all cucumbers sold under the “Limited Edition” brand label during the period from Aug. 1, 2015 through Sept. 3, 2015 because they may have Salmonella.

The type of cucumber is often referred to as a “slicer” or “American” cucumber and is dark green in color. Typical length is 7 to 10 inches.


Limited Edition cucumbers were distributed in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Further distribution to other states may have occurred.

Infected cucumbersCOURTESY