The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections with 449 illnesses in 31 states and the District of Columbia. While originally reported as two separate outbreaks, CDC and FDA combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several similarities, including when and where illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people and the foods they reported eating before they became sick. Laboratory, epidemiological and traceback data have determined that cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Thomas Produce Company, of Boca Raton, Fla., are likely sources of illnesses in this outbreak; however, these growers do not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak.

Based on traceback information collected, Thomas Produce Company supplied cucumbers to multiple points of service where ill people reported eating cucumbers. As part of the investigation, FDA conducted an onsite inspection at Thomas Produce Company and collected samples. Salmonella Braenderup was detected in samples of canal water used by Thomas Produce Company. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis determined that the water used by Thomas Produce Company contained the salmonella that is a match to a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that is causing some of the illnesses in this outbreak.