Outbreak reportcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked A-VEG-04 standard review
Salmonella from cucumbers, US 2014
Outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to cucumbers--United States, 2014.
Overview
Angelo KM et al.. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015 · PMID 25695319
275 people infected; cucumbers likely source.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Find source
- How was the study done?
Outbreak report
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
275 patients
- What was actually found?
Cucumbers
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Contamination events occur.
- What are the study's limitations?
Regional
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Partly
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Low
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show cucumbers are inherently harmful.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Angelo KM, Chu A, Anand M, Nguyen TA, Bottichio L, Wise M, Williams I, Seelman S, Bell R, Fatica M, Lance S, Baldwin D, Shannon K, Lee H, Trees E, Strain E, Gieraltowski L, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Journal
- MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
- Year
- 2015
- Identifier
- PMID 25695319 · PMC4584703
- Verification
- verified – PubMed E-utilities efetch, 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Identify vehicle of Salmonella Newport cluster.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Outbreak report – Outbreak investigation report
- Population
Patients in 29 states + DC
- Country
USA
- Period
May-September 2014
- Sample size
275 patients
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
PFGE/WGS-linked cases
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Cucumbers (Delmarva region)
- Comparator
None
- Endpoints
Salmonellosis
- Statistical methods
Descriptive
5. Actual results
- Results
275 patients; epidemiologic, microbiologic and traceback evidence suggests cucumbers were a source; environmental reservoir suspected.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Environmental reservoir should be identified and mitigated.
6. Strengths
- WGS
7. Weaknesses
- Evidence 'suggests'
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- low
- Rationale
Standard CDC report.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Descriptive.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Supports C-VEG-03.
11. Independent contrary findings
None.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Low (US regional).
13. Overall methodological judgement
Correct but generalised.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | low |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | low |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | essentially correct but incomplete |
14. Open questions
None.
15. Linked fact checks
- Leafy greens and cucurbits are at the centre of the modern fresh-produce outbreak record (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria). – Studies supporting the claim
Use by the Tayebat archive
Note: according to the archive, the studies were compiled by the archive operators. Whether Dr. Elawady himself cited this study is not established.
- What the archive says about the study
Bibliography: 275-case Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers.
- A. What was actually studied?
Outbreak.
- B. What did the authors find?
Cucumbers suggested as source.
- C. What conclusions do the authors themselves draw?
Mitigate environmental reservoir.
- D. What does the archive derive from it?
Cucurbits are dangerous.
- E. Is this derivation scientifically justified?
Regional contamination event; not inherent harm.
- Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)
- essentially correct but incomplete