Health Law

Del Monte Cantaloupe Recalled For Salmonella Contamination

By Colin Caywood

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc ("Del Monte Fresh") announced today the voluntary recall of certain cantaloupes grown in and shipped from Arizona. The affected product was distributed to limited customers in and around Detroit, Michigan and is being recalled because these cantaloupes have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This is certainly not the first time for cantaloupe.  Just law year L&M Companies and Melon Acres announced two separate recalls of cantaloupe for potential Salmonella contamination.

Del Monte Fresh's recalled product includes approximately eighty one (81) cartons of cantaloupes, each containing fifteen (15) cantaloupes per carton, that were distributed to wholesalers in Detroit who in turn sell to other wholesalers and or to retail and foodservice outlets beginning on October 11, 2010. The cantaloupes have a light brown color skin on the exterior; with orange flesh. Each cantaloupe has a Del Monte® sticker with the words "Cantaloupe USA". The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in bulk in cardboard cartons. The recalled cartons of cantaloupes are dark brown cardboard with the "Del Monte" logo in red lettering and "cantaloupes" in yellow lettering on a green background. The cantaloupes have the lot codes W-11-147-43-size 15 or W-11-14-19 size 15.

The cantaloupe recall is being implemented as a result of a random test directed by the USDA and carried out by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Although no illnesses have been reported, Del Monte Fresh voluntarily decided to recall the potentially affected lot.

Symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. In mild cases diarrhea may be non-bloody, occur several times per day, and not be very voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, bloody and/or mucoid, and of high volume. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on October 21, 2010 (boomark / email).