The number of people infected by Salmonella linked to cantaloupe continues to increase and the recall list continues to expand.
As of Nov. 30, there were 117 confirmed patients in the United States, up by 18 since the previous update on Nov. 24. At least 61 of the patients have required hospitalization, and two people have died. The outbreak stretches across 34 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
An outbreak in Canada linked to cantaloupe has sickened 63 as of Nov. 24, with 17 of them hospitalized and one dead. The implicated cantaloupe in both countries was imported from Mexico.
Interviews with sick people and laboratory findings continue to show that cantaloupes are making people in this outbreak sick, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is concerned about this outbreak because illnesses are severe with more than half hospitalized, and people in long-term care facilities and childcare centers have gotten sick.
In the United States, a new recall has been initiated. GHGA recalled pre-cut fruit products made from whole cantaloupe subject to the recall by TrueFresh.
Recalled GHGA products were distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama and Georgia, Sprout’s Farmers Market stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and Trader Joe’s stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The recalled GHGA products and have sell-by dates from Oct. 28 through Nov. 8.
As with previous recalls, there is concern that consumers may have frozen the cantaloupe for future use. Consumers should check to see if they have any recalled cantaloupe on hand and dispose of it. It should be thrown away if it is unclear whether the cantaloupe has been recalled.
In collaboration with Canada, the FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. state and local partners are investigating the outbreak. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis shows that clinical isolates from ill people in Canada are genetically related to those in the United States. The FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified Sofia Produce LLC dba TruFresh; Crown Jewels Produce; and Pacific Trellis Fruit dba Dulcinea as suppliers of the potentially contaminated whole “Malichita” or “Rudy” brand cantaloupes. All three companies have initiated recalls of their whole cantaloupes.
In addition to the whole cantaloupes, several pre-cut fruit products have been recalled because they were made with the recalled cantaloupes. Those products are:
| Date of recall | Title | Product Description | Company Name |
| 11/14/2023 | Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company | Cantaloupe Chunks and Cubes and Fruit Mixes and Medleys Containing Cantaloupe | Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company |
| 11/22/2023 | CF Dallas, LLC | Fresh cut fruit products | CF Dallas, LLC |
| 11/28/2023 | Kwik Trip | Fruit cups and trays containing cantaloupe | Kwik Trip |
| 11/28/2023 | Bix Produce | Fruit cups containing cantaloupe | Bix Produce |
| 11/29/2023 | GHGA, LLC | Fruit cups and trays containing cantaloupe | GHGA, LLC |
For photos of recalled products, use the links in the table.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)