As many as 17,941 with Salmonella linked to Cantaloupe in U.S. and Canada

Canada:164 lab confirmed cases with 61 hospitalized with 7 deaths. (as of December 22)

United States: 302 lab confirmed cases with 129 hospitalized with 4 deaths. (as of December 14)

According to health officials, only a small proportion of all Salmonella infections are diagnosed and reported to health departments. It is estimated that for every reported case, there are approximately 38.6 undiagnosed infections.^[1] The CDC estimates that 1.4 million cases, 15,000 hospitalizations, and 400 deaths are caused by Salmonella infections in the U.S. every year.^[2] 

As of December 22, there have been 164 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Soahanina, Sundsvall and Oranienburg illness linked to this outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (18), Alberta (4), Ontario (21), Quebec (111), Prince Edward Island (2), New Brunswick (2), Nova Scotia (4) and Newfoundland and Labrador (2). Sixty-one (61) individuals have been hospitalized. Seven deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between 0 to 100 years of age. Most of the individuals who became sick are children 5 years of age or younger (36%), or adults 65 years of age or older (45%).

As of December 14, 302 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 42 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 16, 2023, to November 28, 2023. Of 263 people with information available, 129 (49%) have been hospitalized. Four deaths have been reported, three from Minnesota and one from Oregon. Range in age from <1 to 100 years – Median age of 61 years – 26% are 5 years or younger – 8% are 65 years or older.

Recalled Cantaloupe

Malichita and Rudy brand whole cantaloupes

• Might have a sticker that says “Malichita” or “Rudy,” with the number “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”
• See Trufresh recall, Crown Jewels recall, and Pacific Trellis recall for more details

Pre-cut fruit products made with recalled whole cantaloupes 

• Kwik Trip cantaloupe cups, mixed fruit cups, and fruit tray with sell-by dates from November 4 through December 3
• TGD Cuts cantaloupe chunks, mixed fruits, and fruit trays with use-by dates from November 2 through November 24
• Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac cantaloupe chunks, seasonal blend, melon mixes, and fruit mixes with best-by dates from November 7 through November 12
• Stop & Shop cantaloupe purchased from October 23 through November 11
• Vinyard cantaloupe cubes, melon medleys, and fruit medleys sold in Oklahoma stores from October 30 through November 10
• Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe’s cantaloupe chunks, mixed melons, fruit medleys, and fruit trays with best-by dates from October 28 through November 8
• Cut Fruit Express cantaloupe chunks, melon mixes, and fruit mixes with use-by dates from November 4 through November 6
• ALDI [PDF – 2 pages] whole cantaloupes, cantaloupe chunks, and pineapple spears with best-by dates from October 27 through October 31
• Bix Produce cantaloupe fruit cups and mixed fruit cups with sell-by dates of October 25 and October 26
• All cantaloupe recalls are listed on FDA’s cantaloupe recall website.

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^[1] Voetsch, Andrew, et al., “FoodNet Estimate of the Burden of Illness Caused By Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Infections in the United States,” CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, Vol. 15, No. 38, Supplement 3, pp. S127-34 (April 15, 2004) available online at http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/Supplement_3/S127.long

^[2] Tauxe, R, “Emerging Foodborne Diseases: An Evolving Public Health Challenge.,” EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 425-34 (1997) at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2640074/pdf/9366593.pdf

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