Things looked pretty rosy in June for mango grower-shippers. Mexico was sending record volumes to the U.S., and there was ample supply for promotions.
Then in August, salmonella outbreaks cast a pall on the optimism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 127 people fell ill from a 15-state salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican mangoes from Agricola Daniella. No deaths were attributed to the outbreak.
As many as 1 million Daniella-brand mangoes from 15 companies were recalled from late August to late September.
Mexico’s mango season was winding down when the outbreak news hit.
Sept. 3
Daniella mangoes pulled from U.S., Canadian stores
By Coral Beach, Staff Writer
Federal officials believe “mangoes are likely causing” a salmonella outbreak that has reached 16 states and sent 25 people to hospitals in the U.S. Splendid Products stopped distributing Daniella-brand mangoes from Mexico and began pulling the fruit back from customers on Aug. 26 because Canadian health officials reported they could be contaminated with the salmonella strain that has sickened people there, said Larry Nienkerk, owner of Splendid Products, the Burlingame, Calif., distributing company.
By late September, the number of recalls had multiplied. However, little impact was seen on the market.
Sept. 24
Mango product recalls continue
By Tom Karst, National Editor
Additional recalls of mango products sold by Winn Dixie, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Wal-Mart and other retailers related to the Salmonella Braenderup foodborne illness outbreak linked to Agricola Daniella mangoes continued to trickle in through mid-September.
Even so, a leading industry source said the mango market appeared near normal by Sept. 20.
“We have not seen a significant impact on consumption or the market,” said William Watson, executive director of the National Mango Board, Orlando, Fla.
Watson also said f.o.b. prices are similar to a year ago.
Agricola Daniella mangoes added to import alert list
By Tom Karst, National Editor
Sinaloa, Mexico-based Agricola Daniella has been formally added to the Food and Drug Administration’s import alert list as of Sept. 12.
In total, Splendid Products, Burlingame, Calif., and various U.S. retailers and produce marketers issued more than a dozen recalls through Sept. 13 on mangoes sold from July 12 to Aug. 29.
The Food and Drug Administration’s import alert listing states FDA officials may detain, without physical examination, fresh produce from grower-shippers identified because of the suspected presence of pathogenic contamination.
By the end of October, the mango outbreak was declared over and the National Mango Board said it was taking steps to ensure safe product for consumers.
File photo Oct. 27
CDC says mango outbreak is over
By Coral Beach, Staff Writer
The 15-state salmonella outbreak linked to Daniella mangoes from Mexico is over, according to federal officials, who said 127 people in the U.S. fell ill between July 3 and Sept. 1. No deaths were linked to the outbreak.
In its final update issued Oct.12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported a three-state outbreak of a different strain of salmonella had sickened 16 people from July 19-Sept. 12. More than three-fourths of those people reported eating mangoes the week before they became ill.
CDC officials said in the report the three-state outbreak was possibly connected to the larger outbreak, especially because one victim was infected with both strains of salmonella.
Nov. 5
Mango group reassessing GAPs after outbreak
By Tom Karst, National Editor
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration is ramping up inspections of mangoes after a salmonella outbreak led to numerous recalls of Daniella-brand mangoes from Mexico this summer.
William Watson, executive director of the National Mango Board, spoke about the recall to mango growers, importers and others during a reception at Fresh Summit 2012 sponsored by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
He said the board is taking steps to ensure safe mangoes for consumers after the outbreak, which sickened 127 people.
The board has undertaken risk assessments in the U.S., Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Guatemala. A scientific advisory board is being formed to review findings of the risk assessment and develop good agricultural practices — especially for post-harvest operations.
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