FDA Warning Prompts Cantaloupes Recall

The FDA has issued a recall for all cantaloupes from a Honduran manufacturer as they believe the fruit may be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella outbreaks have been reported in 16 states. Those states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

The melons are believed to have come from Agropecuaria and Montelibano. The United States government is seeking to ban all imports of the melons coming from those areas.

Grocers have been advised to pull the recalled melons off their shelves. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning are nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Persons infected with Salmonella may experience a variety of symptoms and illnesses. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses and potentially can be fatal.

Approximately 6,104 cartons of cantaloupes were distributed to wholesalers in regions of the eastern United States and Quebec between February 5 and February 8, 2007. The cantaloupes have a light green color skin on the exterior, with orange flesh. The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in bulk in cardboard cartons, with 9, 12 or 15 cantaloupes to a carton.