AARP Hearing Center
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.
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