The CDC is weighing in on the Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to precut melon sold at Walmart, Kroger, Jay C, and Payless stores in the Midwest. There are 60 people sick in this outbreak. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage.
On June 8, 2018, Caito Foods recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh cut fruit medley products that were produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. These products were distributed to Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio. You can see the brand names, stores where the products were sold, package sizes, UPC numbers, and best by dates at the FDA site.
The recalled fruit was sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon. If you don’t remember where you bought any pre-cut melon products, don’t eat them. Throw it away.
Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented clients sickened in Salmonella outbreaks linked to produce, said, “Consumers should be careful about the fruit they buy. Pay attention to recalls and outbreak announcements to protect yourself and your family.”
Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that pre-cut melon supplied by Caito Foods of Indianapolis, Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak. Precut fruit is a food poisoning risk because it can be contaminated and there is no kill step. Salmonella Adelaide is not a common strain of this bacteria.
Public health investigators are using PulseNet to identify people who may be part of this outbreak. In interviews, ill persons answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures the week before they got sick. Sixty-four percent of 39 people interviewed said they ate pre-cut melon from grocery stores. Seven more people said they ate melon, but didn’t specify whether or not it was pre-cut.
The symptoms of a Salmonela infection include fever, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea that may be bloody, nausea, and vomiting. Most people get sick within 12 to 72 hours after ingesting food that has been contamianted with this pathogenic bacteria.
If you have eaten these products and have been ill, see your doctor. Even when you recover from this infection, there are long term health complications that may develop, including reactive arthritis,endocarditis, and high blood pressure.
