The FDA has announced a recall of fresh and pre-cut imported cantaloupe following an outbreak of salmonella that sickened 117 people and caused two deaths in 34 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The International Fresh Produce Association told The Packer the FDA asked the association to remind its members to thoroughly clean and sanitize equipment and utensils after cutting melons.
“FDA is still working on the tracebacks, and they have asked us to urge our members contacted about a traceback to provide detailed information as quickly as possible,” the association said in a statement. “At this time the tracebacks have linked to one particular grower with multiple farms in Mexico, however, there is no information on how the melons became contaminated prior to entering commerce.”
Recalled whole cantaloupe
The FDA said it recalled whole cantaloupe from the following brands:
- Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label on the cantaloupe that said Malichita or Rudy, 4050 and Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.
- Whole melons from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled Malichita/Z Farms or from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled Malichita or Rudy or from Pacific Trellis in corrugated cartons with certain lot codes.
Recalled pre-cut cantaloupe
The FDA also recalled pre-cut cantaloupe from:
- Aldi cantaloupe cut cantaloupe and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging with best-by dates between Oct. 27-31 and sold in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Vinyard cantaloupe chunks and cubes, fruit mixes, melon medleys and fruit cups containing cantaloupe. Most have a Vinyard label, and some have a red label with the words fresh on it and sold between Oct. 30 and Nov. 10 in Oklahoma stores.
- Freshness Guaranteed (sold at select Walmart stores) seasonal blend, melon trio, melon mix, fruit blend, fruit bowl, seasonal fruit tray, fruit mix and cantaloupe chunks. RaceTrac fruit medley that was sold in clear square or round plastic containers. Recalled products were sold at select retail stores in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana. Click here for the lot numbers involved in the recall.
- KwikTrip 6-ounce mixed fruit cup, 6-ounce cantaloupe cup and 16-ounce fruit tray distributed to Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and South Dakota.
- Bix Produce 5.75-ounce Created Fresh cantaloupe Grab N’ Go fruit cups, Created Fresh Grab N’ Go mixed fruit cups and Jack & Olive mixed fruit cups that were sold in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
- GHGA pre-cut products containing cantaloupe branded as Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s and unbranded products sold at Kroger. Recalled products were distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama and Georgia, Sprouts Farmers Market stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and Trader Joe’s stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Click here for the recall notice.
