Zucchini Recalled Due to Possible Salmonella Risk

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Los Angeles–based company World Variety Produce is recalling some of its zucchini due to potential salmonella contamination. The Organic Marketside Zucchini was distributed in a number of Walmart stores across 18 U.S. states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. 

“This recall was initiated because a single lot of imported organic zucchini tested positive for salmonella as a result of a routine FDA sampling,” the FDA said in a statement. Only one case lot, numbered 38706503, has been affected. If you are concerned about whether you have purchased the zucchini, you can look for the following details on the packaging:

• Brand: Organic Marketside
• Packaging: Clear Overwrap Tray
• Weight: 2ct / Net Wt. 6oz (170g)
• UPC Code: 6-81131-22105-4

Fortunately, no illnesses linked to this particular salmonella contamination have been reported as of April 21. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella bacteria is said to cause approximately 1.3 million infections in the U.S. every year—with 26,500 of these cases resulting in hospitalization. Usually, contaminated food is the root cause of these illnesses. If you have been infected with salmonella, you might experience symptoms including headache, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which might develop anywhere between six hours to six days after being infected. It will take anywhere from a few days to a week to recover, and it is unlikely that most people will require medical treatment. It is important to remember that symptoms like diarrhea and fever can be dehydrating, so keeping your fluids up should be a priority. While this is the case for most individuals, according to the FDA’s recall notice, salmonella can “cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems,” and this can be the case if the salmonella spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

Those who have purchased the affected zucchini are advised to dispose of the vegetables immediately. If you have any questions or further concerns, you can get in touch with World Variety Produce on the phone number 1-800-588-0151 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST).

Another popular product that has recently been affected by salmonella contamination is Kinder chocolates. Earlier in the month, Ferrero voluntarily recalled some of its chocolates in the U.S. due to potential salmonella contamination, the FDA announced. The Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers Assortment and Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket were stripped from shelves after the Belgian production plant experienced a salmonella outbreak. This followed a wider recall of the products in several European countries, including Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. 

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