Kidney Diet Tips

Cucumber Recall: Caution for Kidney Patients

cucumbers-6802Beware cucumber lovers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 400 people have become ill and two deaths  were caused by  salmonella infection linked to cucumbers. The contaminated cucumbers were traced to imports from Mexico, and were distributed in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah, and possibly other states. If you have purchased cucumbers recently check with your grocer to confirm they are not from the contaminated source. Avoid cucumbers when eating out as a precaution.

People with kidney disease, especially those on dialysis, elderly people and young children are at the highest risk for becoming ill or even dying after consuming food contaminated with salmonella.

Kidney diets include cucumbers as a kidney-friendly vegetable choice. They are almost sodium-free, low in phosphorus, and have about 150 mg potassium for 1 cup, sliced with the peel. You can still enjoy fresh cucumbers, but before you purchase or consume them, be aware of where the cucumbers were grown and the distributor. Try one of these cucumber recipes with cucumbers grown locally to be safe.

Additional Kidney Diet Resources

Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:

DaVita Food Analyzer

DaVita Dining Out Guides

Today’s Kidney Diet Cookbooks

DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes

Diet and Nutrition Articles                                                       

Diet and Nutrition Videos

Kidney Smart® Virtual Classes

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.

Sara Colman, RDN, CDCES

Sara Colman, RDN, CDCES

Sara is a renal dietitian with over 30 years experience working with people with diabetes and kidney disease. She is co-author of the popular kidney cookbook "Cooking for David: A Culinary Dialysis Cookbook". Sara is the Manager of Kidney Care Nutrition for DaVita. She analyzes recipes and creates content, resources and tools for the kidney community. In her spare time Sara loves to spend time with her young grandson, including fun times together in her kitchen.