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More Cantaloupe Recalled as Deadly Salmonella Outbreak Spreads

CDC warns against eating pre-cut cantaloupe


spinner image close up of slices of cantaloupe on a table with a large halved cantaloupe in the background recalled due to the cantaloupe salmonella outbreak 2023
Getty Images

As the list of recalled cantaloupe products expands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning consumers not to eat precut cantaloupe when the brand of the fruit is unknown.

The alert follows a recently announced salmonella outbreak that, as of Dec. 18, had sickened at least 302 people, resulting in 129 hospitalizations and four deaths across 42 states. Infections include 40 people in long-term care facilities and 30 children in childcare centers.

The FDA believes the sources of the cantaloupe recalled from Mexico may be due to the use of contaminated water in both irrigation and processing, poor hygiene among employees who harvest the fruit and inadequate sanitation measures for the equipment. 

When the fruit gets sliced or diced, it further increases the chances of contamination and cross-contamination.

The recalled fruit brands

The initial and expanded cantaloupe products that have been recalled include these whole and precut varieties:

  • Whole cantaloupes sold in most states from Oct. 16 to Oct. 23. They may have a sticker that says “Malichita” or “Rudy” along with the number “4050” and “Product of Mexico/produit de Mexique.” Products were on shelves as late as Nov. 9. See the Trufresh recall, Crown Jewels recall and Pacific Trellis recall for additional information.

Precut fruit made with the recalled whole cantaloupes:

  • Unbranded cantaloupe and mixed fruit trays manufactured by TGD Cuts that were distributed to retail and food service locations in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina. The affected use-by dates range from Nov. 2 to Nov. 24.
  • Caribou Coffee Fruit Mix and Cut Fruit Express Brand sold at Caribou Coffee locations in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport with a Nov. 14 best-by date. The remainder of the “Fresh Cut Fruit Mix containing Cantaloupes” were distributed to retail stores and by food service delivery in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois with use-by dates from Nov. 4 to 6.
  • Kwik Trip cantaloupe cups, mixed fruit cups and fruit trays with sell-by dates from Nov. 4 to Dec. 3. The products were also distributed to Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and South Dakota.
  • Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac cantaloupe chunks, seasonal blend, melon mixes and fruit mixes with best-by dates from Nov. 7 to Nov. 12. These were primarily sold at Walmart stores in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana.
  • Vinyard precut cantaloupe sold cubed and in melon and fruit medleys at stores in Oklahoma from Oct. 30 to Nov. 10.
  • Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market and Trader Joe’s cantaloupe chunks, mixed melons, fruit medleys and fruit trays with best-by dates from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8. They were distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama and Georgia; Sprouts stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and Trader Joe’s retail stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Aldi brand cantaloupe, precut chunks and pineapple spears sold in clamshell packaging with best-by dates of Oct. 27 to Oct. 31 in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin.
  • Bix Produce fruit cups and mixed fruit cups with sell-by dates of Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.
  • Stop & Shop with best-by dates from Oct. 23 to Nov. 11 sold in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

Consumers should not eat any of the recalled cantaloupe or fruit products. Instead, throw them out or return them to where they were purchased. Make sure to wash any items or surfaces that may have touched the affected products using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

Remember to check your freezer for the recalled products and take the necessary steps to remove them properly.

Symptoms of a salmonella infection

Salmonella is a bacteria that causes illnesses in 1.35 million people every year, according to the CDC. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems may have more serious illnesses that require medical treatment. Common symptoms of a salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis, include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Stomach pains

In severe cases, an infection could result in a high fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and dehydration. An infection could be fatal. Most people infected will exhibit symptoms six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Typically, people recover in four to seven days without the need for treatment.

Editor's note: This story, originally published Nov. 20, 2023, has been updated to include additional retailers who sold the recalled products and data on cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

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