Health Law

Del Monte Costco Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak to Expand to Oregon, Washington, California, Maryland and Colorado

By Marler Clark

On March 21, I raised the question – 'Are we due for a Salmonella serotype Panama Cantaloupe Outbreak?' On March 22 Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. ('Del Monte Fresh') of Coral Gables, Florida recalled 4,992 cartons of cantaloupes, each containing 4 plastic mesh sleeves with 3 cantaloupes per sleeve, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Panama, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. They were distributed to warehouse clubs (Idaho says Costco) in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. On March 23, the CDC announced that as of March 22, 2011, 12 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Panama have been reported from Oregon (5 cases), Washington (4 cases), California (2 cases), and Maryland (1 case). Expect at least one more to be announced from Colorado in the next day or so.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on March 26, 2011 (boomark / email).