Is the Latest Deadly Salmonella Outbreak in AZ Caused by Climate Change?!

If you just opened this article and thought, "You've got to be kidding me. Another food recall?" you're not alone.

And it's not just your algorithm feeding you stories; foodborne illness is on the rise across the product spectrum. Everything from processed foods to fresh meats and eggs to produce has been slammed with food safety issues, leading to recalls recently.

Arizona's Rise in Foodborne Illnesses

There have been many theories about why there's been a sudden rise in foodborne illnesses hitting our grocery store shelves. The causes range from unsafe food-handling practices in which foods are processed and packaged.

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The culprits are often simple: someone failing to use proper handwashing techniques or contamination from substances like lead and chromium, like that which affected children's applesauce pouches last year.

There are also inherent failures with government agencies, namely the USDA and FDA, which each have their own rules and regulations as they're tasked with keeping the public safe.

Foodborne Illness in Arizona: A New Villain?

Now, there's a new villain in the mix when it comes to the increase in foodborne illnesses.

Get this. Scientists are now linking the increase in foodborne illness to climate change. I'm not making this up. YaleClimateConnections.org says that "climate change..." [with the increase in heat and humidity] "is spoiling food faster and making millions of people sick around the world."

Is Climate Change the Cause of the Deadly Cucumber Recall?

This leads me to the latest produce recall in Arizona. Eating healthy has never been so challenging. If you're turning away from processed foods in favor of whole, fresh produce, you'd better check the check the headlines.

If you love cucumbers, you might want to check your fridge ASAP.

The CDC is warning consumers about a recall of cucumbers due to a salmonella outbreak.

The main culprit is cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, and distributed by SunFed Produce, LLC. These cucumbers were sold between October 12 and November 26, 2024.

The recall affects whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers or black plastic crates. They might have a sticker with "SunFed Mexico" or the grower's name. These cucumbers were sold at major retailers like Costco and Walmart.

Salmonella Outbreak: Are People Getting Sick?

Now, onto the important part—people in Arizona and nationwide are getting sick.

So far, 68 people across 26 states have reported illness related to eating the contaminated cucumbers, and 18 have been hospitalized.

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and they usually start 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated food.

If you have any of these cucumbers, the advice is simple: don't eat them! Throw them away or return them to the store. It's very important to clean any surfaces the cucumbers could have touched to avoid cross-contamination.

Sources: Harvard Public Health | Yale Climate Connections | Science Direct | Newsweek | CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers | TechTarget | USDA: Handwashing