Personal Injury Law

Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Outbreak sickens 50 in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin

By Bill Marler, Esq.

FDA Warns of Salmonella Risk with Cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an import alert regarding entry of cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada. The import alert advises FDA field offices that all cantaloupes shipped to the United States by this company are to be detained.

In addition, the FDA has contacted importers about this action and is advising U.S. grocers, food service operators, and produce processors to remove from their stock any cantaloupes from this company. The FDA also advises consumers who have recently bought cantaloupes to check with the place of purchase to determine if the fruit came from this specific grower and packer. If so, consumers should throw away the cantaloupes.

Cantaloupe and Salmonella – sound familiar?  We have been involved in several, here are two:

Kunick Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak

On May 13, 2002 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release reporting an outbreak of Salmonella Poona connected with Susie Brand cantaloupes distributed in the United States and Canada by the I. Kunik Company of McAllen, Texas. The outbreak of Salmonella Poona infected dozens of people throughout the United States and Canada. The FDA reported that the cantaloupe was sold in retail stores, restaurants, and possibly used in other institutions. The recall of Susie Brand cantaloupes was the result of an FDA traceback investigation that linked salmonella infection to the consumption of this brand of cantaloupe. The FDA detained all cantaloupe imported by I. Kunik from Mexico.

Shipley Sales Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak

In May 2001, the FDA issued a press release warning consumers about Viva Brand imported cantaloupe. The FDA advised consumers of an outbreak of Salmonella Poona linked to cantaloupe imported to the U.S. by Shipley Sales Service of Nogales, Arizona. The outbreak was implicated in numerous illnesses and two deaths in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington state. The FDA detained all cantaloupe imported by Shipley Sales Service and took steps to prevent the importation of any additional contaminated cantaloupe.

Full post as published by Marler Blog on March 22, 2008 (boomark / email).