Throw It Away ASAP! Massive Cucumber Minnesota & Iowa Recall

Some Minnesota and Iowa residents might not be feeling the greatest after eating cucumber. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising Minnesotans and Iowans to stay away from cucumbers.

Cucumbers from growers in Florida are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. Infections are spreading across 31 states in the United States including Minnesota and Iowa.

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This is a huge bummer! I love eating cucumbers as a midday snack or in my salads at dinner. But if you're a devoted cucumber eater in Minnesota and Iowa, you might have to hold off on buying these melons for now.

Food Safety News reports that "canal water used by Thomas Produce Co., which is in Boca Raton, FL, is contaminated with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Braenderup. The Food and Drug Administration has now also confirmed that Salmonella from canal water used by Bedner Growers Inc. of Boynton Beach, FL, is a match for the Salmonella that made people sick." These cucumbers from these growers are no longer on the shelves.

Over 400 people in 31 states have been sick due to this cucumber Salmonella outbreak. Besides Minnesota and Iowa, other states affected by this recent Salmonella outbreak include Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Can you protect yourself from getting from Salmonella? Yes! Here's what the CDC recommends:

Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separately from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the outside temperature is hotter than 90°F, refrigerate within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

How do you know if you have Salmonella? The Mayo Clinic lists the most common Salmonella infection symptoms:

Diarrhea
Stomach (abdominal) cramps
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Chills
Headache
Blood in the stool

These symptoms might feel like the stomach flu. If symptoms last more than a few days, then don't hesitate to call your doctor for help!

More information about this Minnesota and Iowa salmonella outbreak can be found here.

10 Cool Things That Make Minnesota...Minnesota!

Minnesota is known for a lot of cool and interesting things. But I'll bet if you asked someone not from the state what they know about Minnesota they'd mention at least a few of these 10 Cool Things That Make Minnesota...Minnesota!

The Best Truck Stop Food in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

One of the best parts of any road trip is a stop at a truck stop. Whether you call them, travel centers, convenience stores, or just a gas stations; these oases are so interesting and fun.

In the middle of nowhere, you find the island of pavement, pumps, and people; getting gas, some rest, and fuel for themselves, AKA some classic truck stop food.

I'm partial to a Love's Truck Stop. They are usually big and well-managed. And as a connoisseur of gas-station coffee, Love's is one of the best. Plus, they have some delicious hot dogs.

I'm not the only one that enjoys a stop at a truck stop for good eats. The food blog LoveFood.com dug through user reviews to find the best truck stop food in each state.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns