The FDA has released information about the multistate Salmonella Adelaide outbreak that is linked to precut melons. Fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products that contain any of these melons that were produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana are being recalled as a result of this outbreak.
Those products were distributed from the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.. They were packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers and distributed to Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon. You can see the long list of recalled products, along with UPC numbers, package sizes, and best by dates, at the FDA website.
The recalled products include cantaloupe spears, honeydew spears, melon mix, fruit mix, honeydew chunks, cantaloupe chunks, watermelon chunks, fruit burst, fruit snack tray, fruit party platter, cantaloupe half, and watermelon slice, among others. The recalled brand names are generic, Garden Highway Label, Open Acres, Sproutsouts Farmers Market, Trader Joes, Delish, and Walmart Brand.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented clients sickened with Salmonella infections, said, “Even when you recover from this infection, there is still a risk you will develop a serious complication in the future.” Call 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Food safety expert Fred Pritzker, an attorney, said, “These types of products are especially problematic when they are contamianted with pathogenic bacteria because there is no ‘kill step’ to destroy pathogens before the consumer eats them. That means anyone who eats these melons can get very sick.”
Sixty people have been sickened in this outbreak. Among 47 people who have been interviewed, 31, or 66%, have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The illness time frame is April 30, 2018 to May 28, 2018. The case count by state is: Illinois (6), Indiana (11), Michigan (32), Missouri (10, and Ohio (1).
This is a very high hospitalization rate for any food poisoning outbreak, but especially for Salmonella patients. We don’t know why this is the case. The fruit could be heavily contaminated, or the strain of Salmonella that is making people sick could be very virulent.
Consumers should not eat any of the pre-cut melon or salad mixes containing pre-cut lemons recalled by Caito foods. They should be thrown away in sealed container, or taken back to the place of purchase for a refund.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal and stomach cramps and pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Anyone who has eaten these recalled products and has these symptoms shold see a doctor. Long term complications for this type of infection include IBS, high blood pressure, Reiter’s syndrome, and high blood pressure.
Pritzker Hageman, America’s food safety law firm, successfully represents people who have been harmed by adulterated food products such as these contaminated melons, in outbreaks throughout the United States. Its lawyers have won hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of foodborne illness, including a multimillion dollar verdict for a child who needed brain surgery after a Salmonella infection.
