Caito Foods closes its Fresh Cut business after the loss of a major customer, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter that was sent on Thursday, February 27, 2020 to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Businesses in Indiana are required to go follow a mandatory notification process before plants are closed. The letter states, "Given a recent unforeseen cancelation of a customer contract that makes up the majority of our Fresh Cut business, Caito Foods is forced to close its Fresh Cut manufacturing operation." The lost customer was not named in the company's statement or the letter. More than 300 jobs will be lost in May 2020. Layoffs will begin on April 27, 2020 and continue over a two week period. These layoffs will not affect the … [Read more...]
Caito Melon Salmonella Number 7 in Top Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2019
The number 7 food poisoning outbreak of 2019 was the Caito melon Salmonella Carrau outbreak that sickened at least 137 people in 10 states. Thirty-eight people were hospitalized because they were so sick. No deaths were reported in this multistate outbreak. The case count by state was: Alabama (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (7), Indiana (26), Kentucky (26), Michigan (22), Minnesota (3), Missouri (8), Ohio (42), and Wisconsin (1). Illnesses started on March 3, 2019, and the last illness was reported on May 1, 2019. The patient age range was from less than one year to 98. Of 104 people who gave information about their illness to government officials, 38, or 37%, were hospitalized. That is almost double the normal rate of hospitalization for a Salmonella outbreak, which is about … [Read more...]
CDC Says Caito Precut Melon Salmonella Outbreak is Over
The CDC says that the Caito Precut Melon Salmonella Carrau outbreak is over, after sickening 137 people in 10 states. Thirty-eight people have been hospitalized. This last outbreak notice recognizes an increase of 20 cases since the last update in mid-April 2019. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (7), Indiana (26), Kentucky (26), Michigan (22), Minnesota (3), Missouri (8), Ohio (42), and Wisconsin (1). Illnesses started on March 3, 2019, and the last illness was reported on May 1, 2019. Most of the patients in this outbreak are female. Since these products were recalled in April and are long past their shelf life, there should not be many more cases. Officials used PulseNet, the national sub typing network of labs that collect and store bacterial … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau Melon Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau melon outbreak. The latest numbers are 137 people sick in 10 states. Thirty-eight people, or 28%, have been hospitalized because they are so ill, which is a high number for a typical Salmonella outbreak. Usually only 20% of patients are hospitalized when they are sickened with this pathogen. Caito Foods recalled many different types of cut melon products, including Melon Mix, Honeydew Chunks, Cantaloupe Spears, Fruit Burst, Fruit Snack Tray, Watermelon Spear, and Seasonal Fruit Salad among others, on April 12, 2019. Some of these products were sold at Kroger, Spartan Nash, Target, Walmart, and Amazon/Whole Foods locations. It is not likely that any of these products are still in consumer's homes, because the shelf life of … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs in on Caito Foods Precut Melon Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has released information about its investigation into the Caito Foods precut melon Salmonella outbreak that has now sickened at least 117 people in 32 states. The states where ill people live are Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Thirty-two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Officials are asking that anyone who has purchased precut melon make sure that it is not prepared by Caito Foods. These products include honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, and products made with those melons, including fruit mix, fruit platters, and fruit salads. Caito Foods recalled their products on April 12, 2019 and has temporarily stopped production while the CDC and state health departments investigate. The … [Read more...]
Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan Hard Hit by Precut Melon Salmonella Outbreak
People in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan have been hard hit by the melon Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 93 people in 9 states. The case count in each state is: Ohio (27), Indiana (18), Kentucky (16), and Michigan (19). The other states involved include Alabama (1), Illinois (5), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), and Wisconsin (1). The pathogen that has sickened people, Salmonella Carrau, is relatively rare in the United States. Officials are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this outbreak, and more may be identified. PulseNet identified the outbreak on April 2, 2019. It makes sense that most of the victims are in those states, since the outbreak has been linked by the CDC and FDA to precut melons that were produced and … [Read more...]
Salmonella Carrau Outbreak Linked to Caito Foods Precut Melons
A Salmonella Carrau outbreak is linked to Caito Foods precut melons, and has sickened at least 93 people in 9 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-three people are hospitalized because their illnesses are so severe. The patient case count by state is: Alabama (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (18), Kentucky (16), Michigan (19), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Ohio (27), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from March 4, 2019 to March 31, 2019. The patient age range is from less than one to 98. No deaths have been reported in this outbreak. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicate that precut melons supplied by Caito Foods are the likely source of this outbreak. Caito recalled a huge list of precut honeydew, cantaloupe, and … [Read more...]
Caito Foods Recalls Fresh Cut Melon Linked to Salmonella Carrau Outbreak
Caito Foods in Indianapolis is recalling fresh cut watermelon, fresh cut honeydew melon, and fresh cut cantaloupe and fresh cut mixed fruit containing one or more of these melons, since the products are linked to a Salmonella Carrau outbreak. At least 93 people in 9 states are sick in this outbreak. Caito Foods has temporarily suspended producing and distributing these products while the government and the company investigate the issue. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers. They were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The states where ill persons live are Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Carrau Outbreak Linked to Precut Melons
A Salmonella Carrau outbreak that is linked to precut melons traced to Caito Foods has been announced by the FDA. At least 93 people in 9 states are sick with the outbreak strain. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The states where ill people live are Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The FDA report did not state how many people are sick in each state. The last illness onset date was March 31, 2019. There was a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak in 2018, also linked to Caito Foods precut melons, that sickened at least 77 people in 9 states. Thirty-six people were hospitalized in that outbreak. The FDA is recommending that people not eat these precut melon products, which include cantaloupe, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Adelaide Precut Melon Outbreak Ends with 77 Sick
The Salmonella Adelaide precut melon outbreak has ended, according to the CDC, with 77 people sick in nine states. Attorneys at the Pritzker Hageman law firm have filed lawsuits in this outbreak on behalf of ill clients. Thirty-six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high percentage. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Illinois (7), Indiana (14), Kentucky (1), Michigan (39), Missouri (11), Ohio (2), and Tennessee (1). llness onset dates ranged from April 30, 2018, to July 2, 2018. The patient age range was from less than 1 year to 97. Fifty-one percent of patents who were interviewed were hospitalized in this Salmonella Adelaide precut melon outbreak. The typical hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak is about 22%. The FDA, … [Read more...]
