A farm in Ohio has issued a recall for a select number of its cucumbers after it was discovered the vegetables may be contaminated with listeria.
The recall, issued by Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, Ohio, includes whole cucumbers and bagged salad cucumbers that were sold in select Walmart stores in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
The whole cucumbers measured from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter, 6 to 9 inches in length and have a pack date of June 5. The salad cucumbers under the recall were sold in 2-pound clear bags with a blue base and have a pack date of June 5 and June 6.
Wiers Farm said that the cucumbers were “not grown or harvested” by the company but instead “sources from out of state, hen handled and distributed by Wiers Farm.” The potential listeria contamination was discovered through routine sampling by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported in connection to the recall.
“Wiers Farm operates to the highest standards of health and food safety,” read a statement from the company. “We have taken immediate steps to address this isolated incident and we are collaborating closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to ensure a swift resolution.”
Consumers who have purchased the cucumbers under the recall should discard the product.
Newsweek reached out to Weirs Farm via email for additional information on Tuesday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), consuming food contaminated with listeria bacteria can lead to listeriosis. Roughly 1,600 people get listeriosis each year in the United States, and around 260 die from the infection.
Symptoms of listeriosis can vary depending on the person infected. Those who are more likely to become sick from consuming food contaminated with listeria include people who are pregnant, individuals with weakened immune systems or those age 65 and older.
The CDC said that symptoms of an invasive illness from listeriosis—meaning the listeria bacteria spread beyond the intestines—usually start showing within two weeks of eating contaminated food. For those who are pregnant, invasive listeriosis can include a fever and flu-like symptoms, including muscle aches and fatigue. For people who are not pregnant, symptoms can also include a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures.
Invasive listeriosis symptoms are typically “mild” in people who are pregnant. However, the CDC said, the infection during pregnancy usually leads to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or a life-threatening infection of the newborn. Symptoms in nonpregnant people “can be severe,” the CDC said, and nearly one in 20 nonpregnant people infected with listeriosis die.
An intestinal illness from listeria is also possible. These illnesses are rarely diagnosed and usually start within 24 hours after eating contaminated food. Symptoms often include diarrhea or vomiting and are usually mild.
Uncommon Knowledge
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