As we wait for more information about the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to cantaloupes grown in Indiana, let's look back at the outbreaks caused by this fruit in the 19 months. In 2011 and 2012, there have been three outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to cantaloupe. This fruit is more likely to be contaminated because the thick webbed skin provides lots of places for bacteria to hide, and because the fruit lies directly on the ground while it is growing. Animals, contaminated irrigation water, improper handling, and unsanitary conditions on the farm and in packing sheds can contaminate the fruit. In fact, according to the FDA, from 1996 to 2008, there were 10 nationwide outbreaks linked to melons that caused 507 illnesses and two deaths. In the spring of 2011, 20 people … [Read more...]
Kroger Pulls Cantaloupe From Stores In Four States
Kroger grocery stores is removing cut cantaloupe products from locations in four states, but other Kroger stores may soon be joining in. The grocery retailer’s removal of cut cantaloupe products from stores in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky was prompted by a recall issued by Burch Farms in North Carolina for possible Listeria contamination. But cantaloupes produced in southwestern Indiana are also being recalled as they have been identified as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 141 people in 20 states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday. "It's unbelievable that better traceback measures are not in place, especially after the deadly cantaloupe Listeria outbreak last year," said Attorney Fred Pritzker, food safety advocate and … [Read more...]
Cantaloupe, When In Doubt Throw It Out
If the cantaloupe in your fridge came from a farm in southwestern Indiana, throw it out. If the cantaloupe in your fridge came from Burch Equipment in North Carolina, throw it out. If you don’t know where the cantaloupe in your fridge came from, throw it out. With two current cantaloupe recalls, one of which is linked to a deadly, multi-state Salmonella outbreak, when in doubt, throw it out is the message public health officials are getting out. "Eating cantaloupe should not be the food safety equivalent of Russian roulette," stated Attorney Fred Pritzker, who represents food poisoning victims nationwide and recently won $4.5 million for one client. "We have the technology to protect consumers from dangerous pathogens like Salmonella, and the cantaloupe industry needs to use it." Two … [Read more...]
CDC Announcement of Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially announced the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to cantaloupes grown in Indiana.The announcement comes over a month after people began getting sick from the melons. "Every effort should be made to quickly determine the source of a Salmonella outbreak, and when a likely source is found, state and federal health officials should immediately alert the public," said Fred Pritzker, national Salmonella lawyer and food safety advocate. "The primary goal should be prevention of illness." So far, 141 people are ill in 20 states; 31 are hospitalized, and two people in Kentucky have died. The case count by state is: Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), … [Read more...]
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois Hit Hard in Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak
The states of Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana have been hit hard in the latest outbreak of Salmonella linked to contaminated cantaloupe. The outbreak has sickened at least 141 people in 20 states and hospitalized 31. “It is mind boggling how cantaloupe growers continue to ignore basic food safety measures that can prevent their cantaloupe from being contaminated with Salmonella and other dangerous pathogens,” said Fred Pritzker, a national food safety attorney who has won millions for his clients, including $4.5 million for one client this year. The Kentucky Department of Public Health says that the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium, which has sickened at least 50 Kentuckians and has been associated with two deaths in the state, began in early July. Public health officials are … [Read more...]
Kentucky Lab Links Cantaloupes To Deadly Salmonella Outbreak
The Kentucky public health lab has established that Salmonella found in cantaloupes grown on a farm in southwestern Indiana matches the strain that has sickened 141 people in a 20 state outbreak that has hospitalized 31 people and killed two, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health. "This finding is 'smoking gun' evidence that cantaloupe from the Indiana farm caused this outbreak," said Attorney Fred Pritzker, a national food safety lawyer who recently won $4.5 million for a client sickened in another outbreak. The Salmonella deaths occurred in Kentucky where at least 50 people have been sickened since the beginning of July. Public health officials are investigating whether other clusters of Salmonella food poisoning cases in the state might also be part of the … [Read more...]
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella from Indiana Cantaloupes; Deaths in Kentucky
There has been another outbreak linked to contaminated cantaloupes. The FDA announced today that 141 people have been sickened with Salmonella Typhimurium in 20 states. Thirty one people have been hospitalized, and two people in Kentucky have died. The case count is as follows: Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), Kentucky (50), Michigan (6), Minnesota (3), Missouri (9), Mississippi (2), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (2). Public health officials in Kentucky and Indiana have discovered cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana may be the source of the outbreak. The investigation is in the early stages. A state laboratory in Kentucky … [Read more...]
Listeria In The Cantaloupe Packing Shed, Again
During the investigation of last year’s deadly cantaloupe Listeria outbreak, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators reported that they found the bacteria in the packing shed at Jensen Farms. This week, the agency confirmed that they found Listeria in the packing shed of Burch Equipment, the North Carolina farm linked to the current recall of cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Last year’s outbreak, in which 146 people became ill and 30 were killed, was the first time Listeria had been found in cantaloupe. Previously, outbreaks involving cantaloupe were usually linked to Salmonella. Now, one year after the novel and deadly pairing of cantaloupe and Listeria, the combination is back and so are problems with the packing shed. No illnesses have been reported in connection … [Read more...]
Burch Equipment Recall Expands to Include All Melons, Including Honeydew
Burch Equipment LLC of North Carolina is expanding its recall of Caribbean Gold melons to include all of this growing season's cantaloupes and honeydew melons that remain on the market because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The melons originally tested positive for the bacteria at the end of July. The recall was expanded last week after an FDA inspection found unsanitary conditions at the facility's packing shed. Then the company announced that the original recall, for Athena melons, was incorrect, and that the type of melon actually recalled is Caribbean Gold. The whole cantaloupes have a red label reading "Burch Farms" with PLU # 4319. Some of the cantaloupes may have the sticker "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." with PLU # 4319. Cottle Strawberry did not grow or … [Read more...]
Food Lion Pulls Cantaloupe From 463 Stores On Listeria Concern
Food Lion has pulled cantaloupe from 463 Food Lion and Reid’s store locations throughout The Southeast because they are possibly contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections. The melons were produced by Burch Equipment LLC of N.C. which announced a recall on July 28 after a random sample tested positive for Listeria. No illnesses have been reported with this recall. A total of 188,902 melons are included in the recall which was expanded August 2, after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators discovered unsanitary in the packing shed. Initial announcements mistakenly identified the melons as Athena cantaloupes. However, the recalled cantaloupes are actually the Caribbean Gold variety. They bear a red sticker … [Read more...]
