Category Archives: food contamination

Vancouver Sun 

A salmonella outbreak that has sickened 42 people in B.C. since mid-June has been linked to long English cucumbers, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In an update late Friday, the health agency said five more cases have been connected to the outbreak in Western Canada, for a total of 50 cases.

No one has died from the outbreak, but 10 people have been hospitalized.

“Based on the investigation findings to date, exposure to long English cucumbers has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak,” said the PHAC update. “Many of the individuals who became sick reported eating long English cucumbers before their illness.”

But the health agency stopped short of advising people not to eat cucumbers, saying more information is needed to determine the possible causes of the contamination.

“If contaminated food products are identified, (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) will take the necessary steps to protect the public, including recalling the product as required. Currently there are no Food Recall Warnings associated with this outbreak,” said the update.

The health agency noted the outbreak appears to be ongoing “as illnesses continue to be reported.”