This article was updated 7/10/2025 to include information from a FDA update on the Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs.

By Meaghan Lee Callaghan

Since May, the CDC has warned of three different outbreaks of Salmonella and one outbreak of Listeria that have sickened at least 224 and killed four people. Here’s what you need to know.

Cucumbers
Whole cucumbers have been determined to be the cause of Salmonella Montevideo infections in 69 people. Although 22 have been hospitalized, no deaths have been reported. The infected people were from 21 states, with most cases from Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Of the 60 people with demographic information available, the individuals ranged from 1 to 89 years of age, with a median age of 54. The majority were female (74%), white (82%) and non-Hispanic (92%). The CDC has said the outbreak has ended, with all sick cases starting from April 2 to May 29. The cucumbers were found to have been grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc.

The FDA had identified the outbreak strain by sampling cucumbers at a distribution center in Pennsylvania, according to the CDC. The investigators performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on 69 patient samples, one food sample and two environmental samples. WGS showed that the Salmonella cases were linked, and 68 of 69 patient samples predicted that the strain did not have any antibiotic resistance. One patient sample predicted resistance to trimethoprim.

Eggs
An ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to eggs has sickened 134 individuals and hospitalized 38, according to the CDC. One death has been reported. The outbreak was linked back to eggs from the August Egg Co., which issued a recall on June 6. 

Although cases have been found in seven states, the vast majority (63) have been in California. The individuals, who fell ill between Feb. 24 and June 6, ranged from 1 to 90 years of age, with a median age of 48. They were mostly female (59%), nearly all white (85%) and three-fourths non-Hispanic. 

The CDC investigators used WGS to show that the bacteria were closely related genetically, and after the FDA inspected August Egg’s processing facility and collected samples, the investigators were able to determine that the Salmonella-positive samples matched the sick individuals. WGS showed that the bacteria from 79 patient samples predicted resistance to nalidixic acid and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin. One individual’s samples also predicted resistance to ampicillin and streptomycin. The FDA has ended their outbreak investigation.

Pistachio Cream
Imported pistachio cream has been linked to four cases of Salmonella Oranienburg and one hospitalization. There have been no reported deaths. The shelf-stable cream, imported from Turkey to the United States under the brand Emek, had a use-by date of Oct. 19, 2026, and production code 241019. The FDA is undergoing an investigation to determine whether other lots or products are affected. The outbreak investigation by the CDC also is ongoing.

Most of the cases (three) were in individuals in Minnesota, although one case was identified in New Jersey. They all became sick between March 10 and May 19. The sick individuals ranged from 16 to 54 years of age, with a median age of 24. All four individuals were white, three of the four were non-Hispanic and three of the four were female.

WGS of patient samples matched those of the cream, which were collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. WGS did not predict that any of the samples would be resistant to antibiotics.

Fettuccine Alfredo Meals
An outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to ready-made fettuccine alfredo meals has sickened 17 people and caused three deaths. The meals, produced by FreshRealm but sold nationwide at Kroger and Walmart under the Marketside or Home Chef brand, were recalled on June 17. Best-by dates of the recalled meals are 6/27/25, 6/26/25, 6/19/25 or earlier dates, and establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770” or “EST. P-47718” appear on the label in the Department of Agriculture mark of inspection, according to the CDC.

The sick individuals are spread out over 13 states, with the highest number of cases in Texas (three). Almost all (16/17) of the sick individuals were hospitalized, and one pregnant person had fetal loss due to the illness. Illnesses started as far back as July 24, 2024, with five of the illnesses occurring in 2024, and continued to May 10, 2025. The individuals ranged from 4 to 92 years of age, with a median age of 79. They were mostly female (71%), white (76%) and non-Hispanic (94%).

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) used purchase records from two individuals to trace illnesses back to FreshRealm. Two more individuals described the food they purchased, and the USDA FSIS was able to identify the FreshRealm products at local retail stores. The FSIS then identified the outbreak strain in a routine sample of FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo on March 19. They determined that this lot was not distributed throughout the food supply; although they have taken samples of the different ingredients, they have not yet determined which specific ingredient is contaminated. This investigation is ongoing, and the CDC said it is “concerned that contamination is still occurring.”