UPDATED: Mexican papaya alert continues, as do recalls

05/21/2012 11:30:00 AM
Coral Beach

Ruvalcaba said the government provided the positive salmonella results April 12. By then the load had been delivered to one wholesaler in Bronx, N.Y., who may have distributed the papayas to its customers.

The source of the contamination, Ruvalcaba said, was the water at the operation in Mexico. She said the grower added filters and additional treatments to the water to resolve the issue.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued Papayas & More its Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act license Jan. 27. Ruvalcaba said Anguiano had previously been selling directly from Mexico, using a variety of growers.

Grower’s fruit refused

The Papayas & More recall was reported in an FDA enforcement report issued May 16. It indicated the grower was Empaque de Frutas Chulavista S.A. de C.V., Tecoman, Mexico.

In addition to the April 14 recall, grower Empaque de Frutas Chulavista is listed in the FDA’s May 18 import refusal report as recorded by OASIS, the FDA’s Operational and Administrative System for Import Support. The grower had shipments refused on March 8 and March 21 at the border because of salmonella.

Several other papaya growers are listed in the May OASIS report as having shipments refused because of salmonella.

FDA officials stepped up surveillance of Mexican papayas in the summer of 2011 partly because of a salmonella outbreak related to fresh Mexican papaya imports that was linked to more than 100 illnesses.

The current recalls come at the height of the Mexican deal, which is expected to last through July.                                                                                         

Comments (9) Leave a comment 

PLEASE correct the photo accompanying this article.
You have posted a picture of a solo papaya, which is not implicated in this recall -
not a Maradol.

First, the photo is correct. 3112 is the PLU for Maradol Papayas, 3111 is red-flesh papaya. You guys must be mistaking it with the Caribbean Red label. Caribeña has been in the market for some time now. They acted diligently in getting this fruit off the street. This is what the Traceability initiative is all about. Think about how many people would have been affected only a couple of years ago.Also, stop hating on the Mexicans. Last I heard the Listeria outbreak due to tainted cantaloupes came from Colorado.

As the representative of Papayas & More, I assure you that there was a full cooperation on our part in the recall effort. There were no illnesses reported in the area related to salmonella contamination. We are glad to report that we have identified and corrected the source of contamination. Since this incident, we have already imported 18 loads that have tested negative for salmonella.
We are serious about our business and intend to continue importing papayas. We regret that the Packer was not able to locate us. Anyone that may have a concern may reach us at (956) 928-1050 or directly to my cell phone (956) 212-4258. Our warehouse is located at 2101 W Military Hwy 281, McAllen, TX 78503. We have no intention of changing our name or hiding.
If The Packer is serious about reporting the story, they are more than welcome to visit our facility and we would be more than happy to have them tour the Chulavista Papayas' packing house.

Luis Anguiano