Cut Melons at Center of New Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak

Cut-assorted-melonThe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a recall for cut-melons, which it says is responsible for a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide. The tainted melon has sickened 60 people, with 31 hospitalized.

Unlike the recent and fatal E. coli outbreak linked to Yuma, AZ-grown romaine, the CDC was able to link the outbreak to a source quickly. It says Caito Foods, LLC of Indianapolis, IN, is a likely source of this multi-state outbreak. Two other companies were also mentioned in the recall: Gordon Food Service and SpartanNash Distribution

Although the recall affects 10 states, so far, illnesses have been reported in only five. More than half of the cases are in Michigan, which reports 32 people sickened by Salmonella. The other states with reported illnesses are Indiana (11 people), Missouri (10), Illinois (6), and Ohio, with one person taken ill.

More cases may be reported in the coming two weeks.

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Avatar for Greg Johnson Greg Johnson says:

It still has me wondering why the government (FSMA) is so focussed on the small farmer when every outbreak I have seen in the last several years has occurred in processing plants and distribution centers. If you know of a small farm that has caused an outbreak in the last several years, please feel free to point it out. I do not feel the emphasis is being put in the proper environs.

Avatar for Don Griffey Don Griffey says:

Like Greg, I am not aware of any outbreaks from product that you wash, cut and prepare yourself. Buy dirty veggies and stay healthy.

Avatar for Christopher Robb Christopher Robb says:

So right, I farmed certified organic vegetables for 25 years and after being faced with the prospect of fsma and the never ending changes to the rules I gave up. Especially frustrating was the research the Suslow and Koike conducted in Salinas, as reported in this publication ,where they were not successful in inoculating lettuce In the field with ecoli. The problem sure points to large corporate food processing plants,just like Michael Pollan pointed out a few years ago

Avatar for Christopher Robb Christopher Robb says:

Greg, so true, i farmed certified organic vegetables for 25 years and gave up after trying to comply with the ever changing rules that fsma handed to us. It is even more frustrating when Suslow and Koike deliberately tried to inoculate lettuce with e coli in the field and failed, as was reported in this journal a few years ago. Michael Pollan made the point that large centralized food processing facilities were the source of these problems and your observations hold that to be true. It seems the FDA is out to put the small growers out of business.