The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is assisting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a recall of imported cucumbers that were distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified these cucumbers as the source of a multi-state Salmonella Poona outbreak. Since the start of the outbreak, three cases in Louisiana may have been linked to the contaminated cucumbers; throughout the U.S., there have been a total of 282 other cases, including one death. The three cases in Louisiana were located in DHH regions 2, 7 and 8. A map of DHH regions can be found here: http://dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/OrgCharts/DHH_RgnlDistrictAthryMap.pdf.

DHH received notification of the possible outbreak late Friday night and began calling identified national companies with locations in Louisiana that may have sold or used the cucumbers. DHH officials confirmed that Red Lobster locations in Louisiana disposed of the product Friday.

Health officials advise that the risk of becoming ill after eating a cucumber from Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce is low, however DHH recommends families take simple precautions to protect themselves.

Recalled cucumbers may be in consumers’ homes, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Consumers should not eat recalled cucumbers.
Restaurants should not serve recalled cucumbers.
Retailers should not sell recalled cucumbers.
If you aren’t sure if your cucumbers were recalled, ask the place of purchase or your supplier. When in doubt, don’t eat, sell, or serve them and throw them out.