DEADLY SALMONELLA OUTBREAK PROMPTS MASSIVE CANTALOUPE RECALLS
Consumers who eat cantaloupe are advised to be on high alert following a spate of government warnings over a deadly salmonella outbreak linked to the fruit.
U.S. health officials have ordered sweeping recalls of potentially contaminated whole and pre-sliced cantaloupes over the past few weeks. This has prompted major grocery sellers such as Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart to continue removing products containing the melon from store shelves.
Bacteria-harboring cantaloupes have been linked to at least 117 illnesses, including 61 hospitalizations and two deaths across 34 U.S. states, and those numbers could grow, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday in a statement.
The CDC is warning consumers to steer clear of pre-cut cantaloupe if they are unsure of whether it is from a distributor whose product has been recalled. Whole fresh cantaloupes with Malichita, Rudy, “4050” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique” labels are not safe to consume and should be thrown away, the FDA said.
In addition, products containing pre-cut cantaloupe such as fruit salads may pose a salmonella risk to consumers. Since November, there have been at least three waves of recalls issued over pre-cut cantaloupe by major grocery stores, including Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmer Market, Aldi, and Walmart, according to the FDA.
The FDA is advising consumers to toss out any cantaloupe that cannot be identified by brand. If you cannot tell if your cantaloupe, including pre-cut cantaloupe or products containing pre-cut cantaloupe, is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.
Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which usually begin between eight and 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria.
Children under age five, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk of developing severe illnesses that require medical care or hospitalization. People who get salmonella should rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Consumers are advised to stay informed about the ongoing cantaloupe recalls and to discard any potentially contaminated fruit to avoid the risk of salmonella infection.