The brothers who owned the Colorado cantaloupe farm linked to the 2011 Listeria outbreak that sickened 147 people, killed 35 and caused one miscarriage have paid a fraction of the restitution they were initially ordered to pay. Eric and Ryan Jensen, both of Holly Colo., pleaded guilty in October 2013 to introducing cantaloupe contaminated with Listeria to the marketplace and were ordered to pay $300,000 in restitution to victims who lost money because of the outbreak. Those who lost money in connection with the outbreak on medical bills, attorneys fees or funeral expenses and were seeking restitution were to have submitted an account to the court by a deadline last week. Only three people did. Their statements, for $7,624, $4,644 and $916, totaled $13,184. Many of the victims chose not … [Read more...]
FDA Assesses Causes of 2012 Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has released an assessment factors that potentially contributed to the 2012 cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak linked to Chamberlain Farms in Indiana. The outbreak, which was announced in August, sickened 261 people in 24 states. Ninety four people were hospitalized, three of them died. Two stains of Salmonella were involved in the outbreak. A total of 228 people were sickened by Salmonella Typhimurium, and 33 were sickened by Salmonella Newport. The FDA took environmental samples of soil, wild animal excreta, well water, pooling water on field perimeters, drainage ditch water, and cantaloupe. Salmonella was found in soil samples taken form all four growing areas, in the packing house and on equipment. To see details of the FDA’s findings click here. Based on the findings … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Outbreaks Spawn Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Group
After back-to-back seasons of food poisoning outbreaks linked to tainted cantaloupes, growers in the eastern part of the country have formed a new association designed to improve food safety of melons and boost consumer confidence. Cantaloupe is grown differently in the east than it is in west, where the melons are grown in desert conditions. California cantaloupe growers, who pride themselves on never having been associated with an outbreak, have had their own association dedicated to best growing practices for a umber of years. Members of the newly formed Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association must adhere to the growing and handling standards outlined in the document Commodity-Specific Guidelines for Cantaloupes and Netted Melons. They must also agree to submit to unannounced audits … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Wasn’t Our Fault Says Chamberlain Farms
A cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak that last summer caused 261 illnesses in 24 states and killed three people was linked months ago by federal authorities to Chamberlain Farms of Owensville, Ind. Now, the farm’s owners are saying: it’s not our fault. Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made public a warning letter that it sent to Chamberlain Farms, outlining the problems discovered during a post-outbreak inspection of the farm, making recommendations to address the problems and giving a deadline for response. The agency sends warning letters in situations where problems discovered don’t have quick fixes. The warning letter to Chamberlain Farms re-stated previously published information: that environmental swabs taken from various locations in melon fields yielded … [Read more...]
Largest Multi-State Food Poisoning Outbreaks Of 2012: #2
A Salmonella outbreak linked cantaloupe produced on an Indiana farm was second largest multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2012, based on the total number of people sickened. With three fatalities, it was also one of the deadliest. The outbreak, which was announced in August, sickened 261 people in 24 states and put 94 people in the hospital- the most hospitalizations of any outbreak during 2012. Two strains of Salmonella were involved in the outbreak. A total of 228 people were sickened by Salmonella Typhimurium, and 33 were sickened by Salmonella Newport. The three deaths were in Kentucky. Public health investigators traced the origin of the outbreak to Chamberlain Farms Produce, Inc. in Owensville, Indiana. A recall of the melons was announced on August 22. Environmental swabs … [Read more...]
Final Update of Salmonella Infections Linked to Chamberlain Farms Cantaloupe
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its final update on the Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to cantaloupe from Chamberlain Farms of Owensville, Indiana. The outbreak appears to be over. A total of 261 people were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium (228 people), and Salmonella Newport (33 people) in 24 states. The case count per state is as follows: Alabama (25), Arkansas (6), Florida (1), Georgia (13), Illinois (36), Indiana (30), Iowa (9), Kentucky (66), Maryland (1), Michigan (8), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (7), Missouri (17), Montana (1), New Jersey (2), North Carolina (5), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (4), Tennessee (8), Texas (2), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (9). … [Read more...]
