Federal health agencies are investigating a Salmonella Carrau outbreak involving 93 people, linked to fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon from Caito Foods, Indianapolis.
The company recalled all fresh-cut melon products from the Indianapolis processing facility April 12 and temporarily suspended production while the company and Food and Drug Administration investigate, according to a recall notice from Caito.
Retailers that received the products include Kroger Co., Target, Walmart and Amazon.com (under the Whole Foods label). Caito Foods and SpartanNash, which are also listed, distribute to independent retailers, according to the recall notice.
The products have best by/use by dates of April 18, and the recall extends to consumers who might have fresh-cut melon products from Caito. The products include fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon, and melon medleys and mixed fruit products. For a full list of products, brands, lot codes and Universal Product Codes, see the recall notice on the FDA’s recall website.
The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, according to the recall notice.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA notified Caito Foods of the outbreak, according to the notice.
The FDA traced the melon products to Caito through patient interviews, according to the FDA.
Salmonella Carrau is a rare type of salmonella, but has been historically seen in imported melons, according to the FDA, and Caito reported imported melons were used in the products. The FDA is examining shipping records to determine a source, according to an FDA news release that accompanied the recall notice.
The investigation includes collecting samples at the Indianapolis facility where the products were processed and packed.
2018 Caito recall
Caito Foods was named in a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to fresh-cut cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon in 2018. The company recalled hundred of similar products in that outbreak, which involved 70 people.
“Epidemiologic and preliminary traceback evidence indicated that pre-cut melon distributed by Caito Foods LLC was a likely source of this outbreak,” according to a CDC news release on the 2018 investigation.
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