The outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to cucumbers imported by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has sickened at least 671 people in 34 states. Three people have died: one in Arizona, one in California, and one in Texas. And 131 people have been hospitalized because of their illness.
As of September 28, 2015, the case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (13), Arizona (112), Arkansas (9), California (164), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (22), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Minnesota (34), Missouri (10), Montana (14), Nebraska (5), Nevada (13), New Mexico (30), New York (5), North Dakota (3), Ohio (2), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (19), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (9), South Dakota (1), Texas (33), Utah (51), Virginia (1), Washington (21), Wisconsin (38), and Wyoming (6). The new state on the list is Alabama. This is an increase of 113 patients from the last update on September 22, 2015. People started getting sick in July 2015.
We are being contacted by people sickened in this outbreak, and have retained several clients. You can contact our law firm and seek compensation from the cucumber’s importer, and the grocery store or restaurant where you ate them. Fill out the form below if you want a free consultation.
These cucumbers were imported from Mexico. Andrew & Williamson recalled the cucumbers that were sold from August 1, 2015, through September 4, 2015. And Custom Produce Sales has voluntarily recalled all of their Fat Boy cucumbers sold starting August 1, 2015.
Illnesses are still being reported for several reasons. One, cucumbers have a shelf life of about two weeks. If someone ate a cucumber on September 18, 2015, and got sick three days later, their illness would not be reported to authorities until as late as mid-October. And two, it can take weeks for lab results to be returned and the illness to be recorded as part of this outbreak.
We do know that the cucumbers were sold in these states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah. They may have been sold in other states as well. The cucumbers were recalled from some Walmart, WinCo, Savemart, Ralphs, and Food 4 Less grocery stores, and were sold at Red Lobster restaurants in several states. They may have been sold at In-N-Out Burger, Olive Garden, and Capital Grille.
One of the big problems with this outbreak is that a distribution list for where the cucumbers were sold has not been released. We have investigated and know the stores where the produce was sold because recalls were posted on those store’s web sites. And a Salmonella Poona outbreak at Red Lobster restaurants in Minnesota showed that the cucumbers were sold there. Our firm has filed a lawsuit against Red Lobster on behalf of a child who ate there and was sickened.
These recalled cucumbers are dark green and about 7 to 10 inches long. They are known as “slicer” or “American” cucumbers and are usually sold in bulk bins in the produce section of supermarkets. Some stores in Alaska have also recalled products made in-store in their delis with these cucumbers.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, chills, muscle aches, abdominal cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody and/or watery. If you or a loved one ate cucumbers this summer and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor.
Then call our experienced lawyers and talk to them about protecting your legal rights. People have been seriously injured in this outbreak. The bacteria responsible for these illnesses is not antibiotic-resistant, even though the high hospitalization rate suggested that might be the case. Most of those sickened are children under the age of 18, which probably explains the severity of the illnesses. Children have weaker immune systems than adults.
Our lawyers have won millions of dollars for our clients, including the families of children sickened with Salmonella infections. Companies have a legal responsibility to sell food that is wholesome and not contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Our firm is one of the few in this country that specializes in food poisoning litigation.