Salmonella Triple Crown - A Recap

The first quarter of 2008 has witnessed a trio of Salmonella outbreaks. Each one burst onto the scene, enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame, and then disappeared from public view. Here's a recap on the background and status of each outbreak.

Salmonella Litchfield in Honduran Cantaloupe
This story began with an "import alert" issued by FDA on March 22nd. The agency warned that cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower/packer, appeared to be implicated in a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak. As news of the alert was transmitted to processors and distributors, the number of recall notices grew.

The outbreak, according to CDC's most recent update (dated April 2), comprised 51 illnesses in 16 US states, plus an additional 9 illnesses in Canada. At least 16 people were hospitalized. Fortunately, there were no deaths.

FDA has sent a team of investigators to Honduras to help determine the source of the contamination. But if past history is anything to go by, they face a daunting task. At best, it will take months before their investigation is complete and the results are known.

Salmonella Contaminates Alamosa Drinking Water
Hard on the heels of the cantaloupe outbreak came the news of a Salmonella outbreak in Alamosa, CO. The contaminant, eventually identified as Salmonella Typhimurium, caused at least 380 illnesses and forced residents served by the municipal water system to rely solely on bottled water for more than two weeks while the system was flushed and disinfected.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has not yet posted – if it ever intends to do so – a final tally of illnesses on its web site. The last official news update was on March 24th.

Malt-O-Meal Breakfast Cereals Recalled
For the second time in ten years, Malt-O-Meal cereals have been implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Agona. On April 5th, the company announced a recall of its unsweetened Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat cereals after detecting Salmonella in a sample. At the time, they were unaware (according to their press release) of any illnesses associated with the recalled products.

But that soon changed. Maine announced on April 10th that it was investigating three illness reports linked to the recalled cereals, and CDC posted its own investigation report on April 11th. The most recent tally of the scope of the outbreak, published on April 14th by FDA, is 23 illnesses in 14 states. It's too soon to tell whether that number will grow.


It can be frustrating to see these outbreaks fade from the news without anyone announcing "it's over", or giving a final tally of the number of victims – much less a summary of the results of the investigation. Anyone for a nice Honduran cantaloupe?

Cut Fruit Trays Containing Honduran Cantaloupe Recalled

Taylor Fresh Foods of Salinas, CA has announced a recall of several of its cut fruit products that may contain cantaloupe from Honduras. The melons originated with the grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano, whose cantaloupes have been implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield.

The products being recalled are labeled with a Best Before date of March 30, 2008. They include Taylor Farms Gourmet Fruit Tray featuring Creamy Yogurt Dip, Taylor Fresh Melon Mix, Taylor Fresh Fruit Mix, and Fresh Fruit Tray with Creamy Strawberry Dip. Consumers are requested to dispose of these products.

FDA and CDC are continuing to investigate this outbreak. FDA has tested numerous samples of cantaloupe from the implicated producer, and has detected Salmonella Freetown. While this is different from the outbreak strain, the presence of any Salmonella in the cantaloupe justifies a recall action. A team of FDA investigators has traveled to Honduras in an effort to uncover the source of the contamination.

A complete and current list of recalled cantaloupe products can be found at the FDA web site. For an update of the status of the outbreak investigation, visit the CDC web site. Both of these web pages are updated periodically as new information becomes available.

A Cantaloupe Update

The CDC has posted on its web site an update on the investigation into the Salmonella Litchfield outbreak that has been linked to cantaloupe from the Honduran grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano.

The outbreak, which began in early January 2008, has involved 51 people in 16 US states and 9 people in Canada. At least 16 of the US victims were hospitalized. Fortunately, there have been no deaths. The Honduran cantaloupe has been implicated as a result of epidemiological investigations – interviews with victims to find a common food link for their illnesses. So far, the offending microbe has not been recovered from a sample of cantaloupe.

The FDA has provided on its web site a consolidated list of all recalled cantaloupe products resulting from this investigation. Please check this list for information on brand names, manufacturers and importers who have purchased, distributed or sold the implicated cantaloupe.

Fresh Express Recalls Cut Cantaloupe

As part of the on-going Honduran cantaloupe recalls, Fresh Express Foods of Medford, OR has announced a recall of its cut cubed processed cantaloupe. The cantaloupe used in this product was supplied to Fresh Express by C.H. Robinson, and originated with Agropecuaria Montelibano.

The cut cantaloupe was distributed to 2 local restaurants, 1 hospital and 1 retirement center in Medford and 1 restaurant in Klamath Fall Oregon. It was also sold in the deli department of Price Less grocery store in Cave Junction, OR.

No illnesses have been linked to the recalled products.

Honduran Cantaloupe In Colorado

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has provided a summary on its web site of the Honduran cantaloupe recalls affecting consumers in the state. Honduran cantaloupe from the grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano was implicated in one case of Salmonella Litchfield illness in Colorado.

Please check the information posted on the Colorado web site for details, and avoid consuming cantaloupe from this source.

Fruit Salad Containing Cantaloupe Recalled

JARD Marketing of Lawrenceville, MA has recalled some of its cut fruit products that contain cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano of Honduras. The cantaloupe had been supplied to JARD by T.M. Kovacevich International, which issued its own recall notice last week.

The products being recalled by JARD were distributed to food service operations and sold at retail. The retail products are sold under several different brand names, including Frosty Fresh, Fresh Hand Cut, Fruit On The Go, Highland Park, Bruegger’s Bagels, Sid Wainer & Son, Hannaford Brothers and Garden Highway Plant # P-005, and are labeled with a sell-by date of 3/29/08 or earlier.

The cut fruit products were shipped to several northeastern US states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard them. Please consult the recall notice for additional details and for photographs of some of the recalled salads.

Honduran Cantaloupe - Beyond The Western Hemisphere

The European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection provides a weekly notification report on-line that summarizes all food and feed safety health alerts in and between EU member countries. According to last week's report (Week 13), a Netherlands company withdrew fruit salad containing Honduran cantaloupe from the market on suspicion that the cantaloupe was contaminated with Salmonella.

How many more countries might have imported cantaloupes from the Honduran grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano?

Dole Recalls Honduran Cantaloupe

The Dole Fresh Fruit Company has announced a recall of Honduran cantaloupes grown and packed by Agropecuaria Montelibano. This is just the latest in a series of recalls of cantaloupes from the Honduran grower/packer.

The Dole cantaloupes were distributed – packed in cartons labeled "Dole" and "Product of Honduras" – across the United States and in parts of Canada. Cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano have been implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield illnesses in the US and Canada. I fully expect a similar recall announcement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will appear shortly.

On March 25th, I mentioned that another food safety blog site had posted a warning about Dole cantaloupe imported from Costa Rica. I pointed out that Dole had recalled Costa Rican cantaloupe in February 2007, but that last year's recall had nothing to do with the Honduran cantaloupe alerts. In my post, I said, "There is no recall of Dole cantaloupes in progress at this time." That statement is now obsolete.

But please do not confuse this year's recall of Honduran cantaloupe with last year's recall of Costa Rican cantaloupe. To the best of my knowledge, based on information provided by CDC, there is no link between the two recalls, and no evidence that implicates Costa Rican cantaloupe in the Salmonella Litchfield outbreak.

Consumers across the United States and Canada should remain wary of purchasing cantaloupes without verifying the country of origin until this outbreak has been put to bed and the "all clear" has been sounded.

Another Recall of Cut Cantaloupe Products

In the on-going saga of the Honduran cantaloupes, Spokane Produce, Inc. is recalling several varieties of fruit salads under the Garden Patch, Yokes, and Rosauers Classic labels. These salads contain pieces of cantaloupe from the Honduran grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano, and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The salads were distributed in stores in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming, and carry "Best used by" dates up to and including 03/26/08.

If you have purchased any of the products mentioned in the recall notice, please return them to the store.

A Cantaloupe Recap

The number of cantaloupe recalls is mounting, both in the United States and Canada. In case you've missed the story, here is a recap, including a linked list of all the relevant recalls and alerts announced so far.

The story broke on March 22nd, when FDA issued an import alert to its field officers and to importers and distributors of cantaloupes. The alert followed an investigation that implicated Honduran cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano in an international outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield illnesses. According to the CDC, 50 people in the United States and 9 in Canada were victims of the contaminated cantaloupes.

Here is a list of the cantaloupe recall notices issued so far in the United States.

• Charlie's Produce Spokane Recalls Cut Cantaloupe Products Because of Possible Health Risk
• Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Honduran Cantaloupes grown by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras
• T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. Recalls Cantaloupe Because of Possible Health Risk
• Tropifresh, Inc. Recalls Whole Cantaloupe Products Because of Possible Health Risk
• Bounty Fresh, LLC. Recalls Cantaloupe Because of Possible Health Risk
• Simply Fresh Fruit Announces Nationwide Recall of Some Fresh Cut Fruit Products Containing Cantaloupe Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
• Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Recalls Whole Cantaloupes Grown by Agropecuaria Montelibano, Honduras, Due to Possible Health Risk

And here is the list of Canadian recall notices as of today.

• Cantaloupes From Agropecuaria Montelibano May Be Contaminated With Salmonella Bacteria
• SUN RICH brand and A&P brand cut cantaloupe products may contain Salmonella bacteria
• Cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria

In a related story, the New York Times reported today that the FDA's actions have caused Agropecuaria Montelibano to lay off 1,800 workers. The Honduran government is protesting the FDA decision to deny entry into the US of cantaloupes produced by the grower/packer, and claims that the cantaloupes are safe to eat.

One of the reasons for the large number of separate recall notices is that the cantaloupes are distributed through a variety of networks. Some find their way to stores as whole melons, while others are processed into fresh fruit salads for food service operations and restaurants. It takes time for the news to filter through the distribution chain. Until an end has been declared to this outbreak and series of recalls, it would be a good idea to avoid any cantaloupe that is not clearly labeled with its country of origin.

Cantaloupe Again

Simply Fresh Fruit of Los Angeles, CA has recalled some of its cut fruit products, which may contain Salmonella-contaminated cantaloupe from Honduras.

Please see the FDA recall notice for details.

Yet Another Cantaloupe Recall

FDA is advising consumers that T.M. Kovacevich International of Philadelphia is recalling Honduran cantaloupes that it had purchased from Agropecuaria Montelibano. The recalled melons were distributed to wholesalers and processors in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey, and might be for sale in some stores in those states.

The recall is part of the fallout from the Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada that has been linked to cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower/packer. Melons that are part of this recall carry a "Mike's Melons" sticker. Unlabelled cantaloupes should be viewed with suspicion, because the sticker can fall off.

If you have purchased cantaloupes recently, please contact the store to find out their origin. If the melons are part of this series of recalls, they should be destroyed.

The Cantaloupe Recalls Continue...

As part of the fallout from the Honduran cantaloupe investigation, Tropifresh, Inc. of Los Angeles has recalled Agrolibano’s Produce Brand whole cantaloupes, due to a risk of Salmonella contamination. The cantaloupes were distributed through wholesalers in southern California, Canada and Pennsylvania.

The melons, which were supplied to Tropifresh by Agropecuaria Montelibano, may carry the label "Mike's Melon", or – if the labels have fallen off – may be unlabelled. Customers who have purchased these melons should return them to the store for a refund.

More Fallout From The Honduran Cantaloupe Recall

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is alerting consumers in Quebec and Ontario to a recall of fruit salads containing cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, the Honduran grower/packer whose cantaloupes have been implicated in a Salmonella outbreak in Canada and the United States.

The fruit salads are being recalled by the manufacturer, Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc., of Brampton, Ontario. They have been distributed at retail in Quebec and Ontario, and to food service establishments in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. No illnesses have been linked to these products.

For more information on this recall, please read the CFIA notice, or visit the Sun Rich web site to download a copy of their news release.

Importer Recalls Honduran Cantaloupes

In the latest development in the case of the contaminated cantaloupes, Central American Produce, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL has announced a recall of cantaloupes grown and packed by Agropecuaria Montelibano.

The recalled cantaloupes have been implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield that has sickened at least 50 people in the United States and 9 in Canada since the beginning of 2008. FDA first alerted consumers to the health hazard on March 22nd, when the agency issued an Import Alert. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency followed suit later the same day.

Melons have been shipped under various brand names, including "Mayan Pride" and "Mikes Melons". Some have been incorporated into fruit salads.

Charlie's Produce of Spokane, WA recalled several of its cut cantaloupe products on the weekend. While the recall notice stated that no illnesses have been associated with the company's products, The Washington Department of Health has reported 9 cases of Salmonella Litchfield infection.

If you have purchased cantaloupes and are unsure of their country of origin, check with the store. If you are experiencing any symptoms of Salmonella infection and have eaten cantaloupe recently, consult your family physician and be sure to mention the cantaloupe.

Honduran Cantaloupe - Let The Recalls Begin!

On Saturday, FDA issued an "Import Alert" on cantaloupes from the Honduran grower/packer Agropecuaria Montelibano. The cantaloupes have been implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield in 16 US states and in Canada.

Over the next few days, we can expect to hear about retail-level recalls of the suspect cantaloupes. The first one appeared this morning.

Charlie's Produce of Spokane, WA has announced a precautionary recall of "Charlie's Produce Brand Cut Cantaloupe Products". The products were distributed to retail stores and food service establishments in Montana, eastern Washington and Idaho. While no illnesses have been associated with these cut fruit salads, several of the recalled items may contain cut cantaloupe from Agropecuaria. Customers should return any of the items listed in the recall notice to the store for a full refund.

Please consult the FDA notice for a list of the recalled items, or call Mike Ruff, Charlie's Food Safety Director, at 206-625-1412 for details.

Honduran Cantaloupe Update

Further to yesterday's announcement of the Honduran Cantaloupe recall due to a Salmonella outbreak, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has now posted a "Health Hazard Alert" on its web site. Canadian consumers who have purchased cantaloupes since the beginning of 2008 should read this notice.

For US consumers, please check the FDA "Import Alert" notice, which was posted yesterday.

Salmonella Hitches Ride On Honduran Cantaloupes

FDA has issued an import alert on cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer. The cantaloupes are suspected of being the source of a Salmonella outbreak in the US and Canada.

Notices have been sent to all FDA field offices that cantaloupes from this company are to be detained at the port of entry. Importers, produce processors, grocers and food service operators in the US have been notified to remove from stock any cantaloupes from Agropecuaria Montelibano. FDA is advising consumers who have purchased cantaloupes to call the store and ask about the country of origin and the name of the grower/packer.

According to the FDA notice, these cantaloupes are associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield that has sickened 50 people in 16 states and an additional 9 people in Canada. Fourteen of the victims have been hospitalized. If you have experienced symptoms of Salmonella infection and have eaten cantaloupe recently, contact your doctor. Please navigate to the FDA news release link (above) for additional details.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has also issued a health alert. According to the agency's email notice, the cantaloupes were sold in the following provinces:

- Federated Co-Op in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Western Ontario, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon;
- Canada Safeway stores in the province of British Columbia only.

It's possible that the cantaloupes were distributed more widely in Canada. Illnesses tied to this outbreak have been reported in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Canadian consumers can obtain more information by calling Canada Safeway Limited at 1-800-SAFEWAY and CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735. CFIA offices will be closed on Easter Monday, March 24th, but will reopen at 8:00am EDT Tuesday.