Dive Brief:
- A salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has come to an end, according to the CDC, but investigators weren't able to determine a definitive source of the pathogen. The investigation led to two cucumber recalls in September.
- The CDC said that laboratory results and investigations "identified cucumbers imported from Mexico and distributed by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce as the likely source of the infections in this outbreak," in the agency's final report dated March 18.
- The outbreak sickened 907 people in 40 states, including 204 hospitalizations and six deaths. Health officials concluded that salmonella was not the cause of death in two of the three deaths in California. Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas also reported one death each.
Dive Insight:
The lack of a definitive source in an outbreak of this magnitude means manufacturers don't always know for sure whether the ingredients they source for their products are among those contaminated. In this case, the investigation turned up a "likely" source.
If manufacturers have started putting in place the preventive protocols mandated by new FSMA rules, chances are they will be in a better position to catch glaring safety issues in supply chains.
Just a few months ago, Costco experienced similar issues when its chicken salad was linked to an E. coli outbreak, but the FDA never confirmed an exact ingredient as the contamination source. Montana health officials posited the celery and onion mix as the culprit, the the FDA's own testing did not confirm those results.