Another Class I recall: Nearly 1.5 tons of cucumbers RECALLED by the FDA due to Salmonella contamination
By oliviacook // 2025-07-23
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  • Nearly 3,000 pounds of cucumbers were recalled by the FDA on July 8 due to Salmonella contamination in a Class I (highest level) alert involving Fuentes Farms.
  • Two previous outbreaks linked to cucumbers from Florida-based Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce in 2024 and 2025 resulted in more than 620 illnesses and 149 hospitalizations.
  • Salmonella affects 1.35 million Americans annually and raw produce, like cucumbers, are common culprits – especially since they're often eaten unpeeled and uncooked.
  • Major issues behind recurring outbreaks include poor traceability, contaminated irrigation water and lack of consumer labeling or awareness.
  • Consumers can reduce risk by asking about produce origins, washing thoroughly, avoiding cross-contamination and staying up to date on FDA recall alerts.
Nearly 3,000 pounds (15 tons) of cucumbers were recalled recently – not because someone got sick – but because someone might. On July 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) slapped the produce with its highest-level health hazard alert: a Class I recall. The cucumbers, shipped by Fuentes Farms in Texas, were pulled from shelves after the FDA found a batch contaminated with Salmonella, a deadly bacterium. It can cause food poisoning and even death if the infection spreads to the bloodstream or causes severe dehydration. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Back in May, an outbreak tied to cucumbers from Bedner Growers Inc. made at least 69 people across 21 states sick. Just a year earlier, an even bigger outbreak swept the country. In June 2024, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked cucumbers from Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company to 551 illnesses across 34 states and 149 hospitalizations. Each year, Salmonella infects an estimated 1.35 million Americans, sending more than 26,000 to the hospital and claiming over 400 lives, according to the CDC. While raw meat often takes the blame, fresh produce is a frequent culprit – tomatoes (May 2025), cantaloupes (November 2023), onions (October 2023) and peaches (2020) and other various fresh product items. (Related: SALMONELLA outbreak in various states prompts RECALL of diced onion products.)

A healthy snack with a dirty secret

Why do cucumbers keep making people sick? At first glance, cucumbers seem harmless, healthy even: They're low-calorie, hydrating and served raw more often than not. But therein lies the problem. Because they're rarely cooked, any bacteria present on the surface go straight into your mouth. Those bacteria might come from unsanitary water used to irrigate the fields, soil contaminated with animal waste or poorly cleaned processing equipment. In the 2024 multistate outbreak, canal water and infected soil were the smoking guns. In this week's Fuentes Farms recall, the cucumbers ended up without adequate traceability, with some even sold at flea markets with zero labeling. Here's where it gets frustrating. We've been here before and we keep ending back here, for the same reasons:
  • Traceability gaps: In the Fuentes Farms case, the cucumbers were reportedly sold through distributors and flea markets – places with little to no product tracking or labeling. That means if something goes wrong, it's much harder to recall quickly or even alert buyers.
  • Unsafe growing conditions: Last year's investigation with Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company farms revealed contaminated water sources and soil. When that water splashes onto the crops or gets absorbed into the produce, there's no washing it off after the fact.
  • Lack of consumer awareness: Most cucumbers are sold without stickers, brand names or origin information. So even if you wanted to avoid risky sources, you probably couldn't.

What can you do?

Here's how to stay safe:
  • Ask where your produce comes from, especially at farmers' markets or flea markets. If the seller can't name the farm or region, that's a red flag.
  • Wash cucumbers under running water – not soap – and scrub with a clean vegetable brush. Even if you're peeling them, bacteria can transfer from the skin to the flesh via the knife or peeler.
  • Keep raw produce separate from meats and other items in your kitchen. Cross-contamination is a sneaky route for illness.
  • Support labeling laws by pushing for policies requiring farms to label produce and origin info – a small step with big safety implications.
  • Stay informed on recalls. The FDA's recall page updates daily. Knowing what's at risk gives you the power at the grocery store or supermarket.
Different produce needs different cleaning. Here's how to do it right – no expensive sprays or gimmicks needed:
  • Firm vegetables, like cucumbers, zucchini, carrots: Rinse under cool running water and scrub gently with a clean produce brush. Dry before peeling and slicing.
  • Leafy greens, like kale, lettuce, spinach: Discard outer leaves then swish the rest in a bowl of cold water. Lift out (don't pour), repeat if needed and dry with a salad spinner or clean towel.
  • Fruits and smooth vegetables, like apples, peppers, tomatoes: Rub gently under running water and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
  • Never use soap or bleach: They're not safe to ingest and don't clean better than plain water and friction.

This isn't just a "foodie" issue

You don't have to be a "health nut" or "label reader" to care about this. Whether you're buying bulk produce for your restaurant, picking up dinner ingredients for your family or choosing "healthy" snacks for your kids' lunches, you deserve to know your food is safe. The idea that a cucumber could quietly send someone to the hospital should be a wake-up call for all. From government regulators to farmers to consumers, it's time people treat food safety like the life-or-death issue it is. Until then, Salmonella-laced cucumbers (and others) will keep sneaking back into our kitchens and our bodies. Watch this video about Salmonella food poisoning. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Drug-resistant Salmonella strain triggers nationwide recall of salami in Canada. FDA issues highest-level recall for TOMATOES contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella outbreak triggers recall of millions of EGGS.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk FDA.gov 1 FDA.gov 2 Brighteon.com
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