FDA names brand involved in salmonella cases, looks for others
Though no recall notice had been issued July 24, the Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to eat Caribeña brand maradol papayas distributed by Grande Produce of San Juan, Texas, because they are linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating other sources of illnesses in the outbreak as well.
The agency said July 22 on its website that because maradol papayas are green before they ripen and turn yellow, consumers should not eat Caribeña brand maradol papayas regardless of their color.
The CDC on July 21 had issued a warning on its website that advised consumers to throw away all yellow maradol papayas, and if in doubt of the variety, dispose of all papayas.
With 47 reported ill in 12 states, the CDC said that 12 people have been hospitalized and one death has been reported from New York City linked to the outbreak. The CDC is not releasing information on that person.
The CDC said the onset of reported illnesses started between from May 17 and June 28.
A spokesperson for Grande Produce could not be reached for comment early the afternoon of July 24.
Siobhan DeLancey, team lead for strategic communications for the Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine with the FDA, said July 24 that no recall notice had been issued yet.
“The particular papayas that we have identified as being associated with the cases appear to all come from Mexico,” she said.
DeLancey said there are states with illnesses where Grande Produce doesn’t distribute, so the FDA is continuing its traceback investigation to determine if there is a common grower/operation involved.
According to the FDA:
- Papaya samples taken by the Maryland Department of Health from an undisclosed Baltimore retail location tested positive for Salmonella Kiambu and Thompson;
- Caribeña brand papayas from Mexico have been linked to the illnesses, and additional brands will be announced as the information becomes available;
- The states involved are Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
