We isolated Bacillus anthracis-like strain from internal tissues of marketed vegetables (onion and cucumber). Further analysis of the pigment-producing cucumber strain implicates a possible horizontal gene transfer of pyoverdine (pvd) uptake receptor gene from Pseudomonas sp. augmenting Bacillus strain's ability to infect and survive in cucumber internal tissues. To our knowledge, the animal anthrax causing bacterium has not been reported previously in agricultural produce and hence we propose that acquired virulence gene provides enhanced survivability within alternate hosts. Thus, we present the first report of this pathogen being isolated from internal tissues of marketed vegetables. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.