Multistate Salmonella Outbreak After Bedner Growers, Inc. Cucumber Recall

The FDA announced a dangerous salmonella outbreak on May 19, 2025, affecting 45 people across 18 states who became ill after eating contaminated cucumbers. The outbreak has resulted in 16 hospitalizations, with victims suffering severe infections from produce distributed by Bedner Growers, Inc., a Florida-based company that supplied retailers, restaurants, and wholesale distributors nationwide from April 29 through May 19, 2025.

The cucumber recall affects families from Alabama to Virginia, including residents in states neighboring New Jersey, such as New York and Pennsylvania. What began as routine grocery shopping has turned into a public health emergency, with victims suffering severe salmonella infections that have required hospitalization and ongoing medical treatment.

Any cucumbers that were sold at Bedner's Farm Fresh Markets after May 14, 2025, are not part of the recall, and no other produce from the company has been affected at this time.

The Bedner Growers Salmonella Outbreak: Key Facts And Health Risks

The numbers tell a disturbing story. As of May 30, 2025, the cucumber recall has resulted in 45 confirmed illnesses across 18 states, with 16 people requiring hospitalization. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported, but the outbreak continues to grow as more victims come forward.

States affected include: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The last reported illness onset occurred on May 10, 2025, suggesting the contamination period may have ended, but health officials remain vigilant

FDA testing confirmed the presence of Salmonella Montevideo in cucumber samples collected from a Pennsylvania distribution center. This specific strain matches the bacteria found in victims' clinical samples, providing definitive proof of the contamination source

Salmonella symptoms develop within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food and may include:

• Severe diarrhea (which may contain blood).
• High fever and chills.
• Intense abdominal cramps.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Headaches and body aches.
  

Most healthy adults recover in about a week, but young children, seniors, and people with compromised immune systems can experience dangerous complications. The infection can spread to the bloodstream, causing life-threatening conditions including bacteremia, meningitis, and infected heart valves. Some victims develop reactive arthritis that can persist for months or years.

The FDA's outbreak investigation remains ongoing as health officials work to trace the full distribution of recalled cucumbers and identify any additional contamination sources that may have contributed to this public health crisis.

A Pattern Of Corporate Negligence

The Bedner Growers cucumber recall reveals a troubling pattern of safety failures that should alarm every consumer. FDA investigators collected environmental samples from the Boynton Beach, Florida, facility that tested positive for Salmonella, matching the same strain that sickened dozens of people across the country.

This was not Bedner Growers' first contamination crisis. In 2024, the same facility was linked to separate outbreaks involving Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup strains. The FDA conducted follow-up inspections in April 2025 specifically because of these previous violations, yet contaminated cucumbers continued reaching consumers' tables.

Even more concerning, laboratory analysis revealed multiple additional Salmonella strains in the current cucumber samples beyond the outbreak strain. These other bacteria match isolates in national databases from 2025 and previous years, suggesting ongoing contamination problems at the facility.

Produce contamination occurs through several preventable pathways: contaminated irrigation water, infected soil, animal waste used as fertilizer, and poor worker hygiene practices. Food safety experts know these risks and have established protocols to prevent them. When companies like Bedner Growers fail to implement proper safeguards, they gamble with public health.

What Consumers Should Do Now

If you purchased cucumbers between April 29 and May 19, 2025, take immediate action to protect your family. Bedner Growers cucumbers were sold at their Florida retail locations and distributed nationwide through Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. to restaurants, grocery stores, and wholesale distributors.

Immediate steps to take:

• Discard any cucumbers purchased during the contamination period, even if they appear fresh.
• Clean and sanitize all surfaces the cucumbers touched, including refrigerator shelves, cutting boards, countertops, and storage containers.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling potentially contaminated cucumbers.
• Check with your grocery store to determine if they received Bedner Growers products.

When dining out, ask restaurant staff about their cucumber supplier. Many food service establishments received contaminated produce without realizing the source. Target and other major retailers have issued their own recalls for products containing Bedner Growers cucumbers.

Get medical help right away if you experience severe symptoms, including high fever, bloody stools, signs of dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than a few days. Young children, seniors, and family members with weakened immune systems need careful monitoring for severe complications.

Legal Rights For Salmonella Victims

Food companies have a legal duty to provide safe products to consumers. When they fail in this responsibility, victims have the right to hold them accountable through the courts. The parallels between this cucumber recall and similar foodborne illness cases are striking—both involve trusted food companies that prioritized profits over public safety.

Salmonella victims can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term health complications. Some people develop chronic conditions like reactive arthritis that require ongoing treatment for months or years after the initial infection.

If you were sickened by contaminated cucumbers, document everything:

• Keep all medical records and bills related to your illness.
• Save receipts showing cucumber purchases during the recall period.
• Maintain a symptom diary with dates and severity levels.
• Record lost work time and wages.

Product liability cases against food companies require thorough investigation and expert testimony. Companies like Bedner Growers often have teams of lawyers working to minimize their responsibility. Victims need experienced legal representation to secure fair compensation for their injuries.

Corradino & Papa's Commitment To Food Safety Justice

At Corradino & Papa, LLC, we have spent over 25 years fighting for families harmed by serious injuries, including product liability cases. Our current wrongful death lawsuit against Boar's Head for listeria contamination demonstrates our commitment to holding food companies accountable when their failures cause serious harm. With over $500 million recovered for our clients, we have the resources and experience to take on major food companies and their legal teams.

These cases demand quick action because of legal deadlines and the importance of preserving evidence. Don't hesitate to reach out to us for guidance on your situation. We handle all aspects of your legal claim, so you just focus on getting better; we'll take care of the rest. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered illness from contaminated cucumbers, contact Corradino & Papa, LLC today. Don't let negligent companies escape responsibility for the harm they cause.