In June 2024, the CDC announced a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis associated with cucumbers. As of August 22, 2024, a total of 551 cases had been reported by 34 states and the District of Columbia. Cases of Salmonella Africana (n=282) and Salmonella Braenderup (n=269) were detected. CDC and FDA combined investigations of these two serotypes as they shared several similarities, including where and when illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people and the foods they reported eating before they became sick. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024 to July 26, 2024. Of 456 people with information available, 155 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Of 226 people interviewed about foods they ate in the week before illness onset, 155 (69%) reported eating cucumbers. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that bacteria from sick people samples were closely related.

WGS analysis of bacteria from 235 people's samples predicted resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, and tetracycline.

FDA's traceback investigation identified Bedner Growers, Inc. in Florida as a supplier of cucumbers in this outbreak. This one grower does not account for all illnesses in this outbreak. FDA collected samples at the grower in Florida and identified Salmonella Braenderup in untreated canal water. WGS determined that the Salmonella found in the water is the same strain of Salmonella Braendrup that made people sick. Additional soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. were positive for other strains of Salmonella.

Officials in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture collected samples of cucumbers from several retail locations in the state. Testing identified a different strain, Salmonella Bareilly, in one sample of these cucumbers.

On May 31, 2024, Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. issued a recall. Cucumbers distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. were from a variety growers. The grower that likely supplied potentially contaminated cucumbers is no longer growing and harvesting cucumbers for the season. The cucumbers were shipped from May 17 to May 21, 2024. They were grown in Florida.

The outbreak was declared over on August 22, 2024.