Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak – States hardest hit – Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin

Canada is reporting 26 ill in British Columbia 7, Ontario 7, Quebec 8, Prince Edward Island 2, Newfoundland and Labrador 2.

In the United States since the last update on November 17, 2023, 56 more illnesses have been reported. As of November 24, 99 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 32 states. Arkansas 1, Arizona 7, California 1, Colorado 2, Georgia 3, Iowa 5, Illinois 4, Indiana 2, Kentucky 5, Massachusetts 1, Maryland 1, Michigan 1, Minnesota 13, Missouri 9, Mississippi 1, North Carolina 2, Nebraska 4, New Jersey 1, Nevada 2, New York 1, Ohio 8, Oklahoma 1, Oregon 1, Pennsylvania 1, Rhode Island 1, South Carolina 3, Tennessee 4, Texas 3, Utah 1, Virginia 1, Washington 1 and Wisconsin 8.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 17, 2023, to November 10, 2023.

Of 77 people with information available, 45 have been hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported from Minnesota.

Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.  Age of ill ranges from less than 1 to 100 years of age.  60% are male and 40% are female.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 33 people interviewed, 29 (88%) reported eating cantaloupe. 

Recalled whole cantaloupe from the following brands:

• Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label on the cantaloupe that says “Malichita” or “Rudy”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”
• Cantaloupe was sold at retail stores in AZ, CA, MD, NJ, TN, IL, IN, KY, MI, OH, OK, WI, TX, FL, and Canada. This list may not include all states as the cantaloupes could have reached consumers through further retail distribution.
• Retailers and wholesalers would have received recalled whole melons from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malachita/Z Farms” or from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy.”

Recalled cut cantaloupe and products made from recalled whole cantaloupes:

• ALDI cantaloupe, cut cantaloupe, and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging with Best-by dates between October 27 and October 31.
• Vinyard cantaloupe chunks and cubes, fruit mixes, melon medleys, and fruit cups containing cantaloupe. Most have a “Vinyard” label, and some have a red label with “Fresh” sold between October 30 and November 10 in Oklahoma stores.
• Freshness Guaranteed seasonal blend, melon trio, melon mix, fruit blend, fruit bowl, seasonal fruit tray, fruit mix, and cantaloupe chunks; and RaceTrac fruit medley sold in clear square or round plastic containers at select retail stores in IN, MI, OH, KY, NC, TN, VA, IL, TX, LA (see recall announcement for lot codes and “best by” dates).

CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled fruit.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.