What you needed to know BEFORE the Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak – You should have watched Poisoned

Unfortunately, the United States number will likely increase this coming week after the Holiday break.

Marler Clark has been in the lead for all the Cantaloupe Outbreaks Lawsuits over the last decades. Here is a sampling:

• Caito Foods Melon Salmonella Outbreak – Multistate (2018)
• Chamberlain Farms Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak – Multistate (2012)
• Del Monte Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuit – Nationwide (2011)
• Susie Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuit – Washington (2002)
• Viva Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuit – Washington, California (2001)
• Jensen Farms Rocky Ford Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak – Nationwide (2011)

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: Alaska 1, Arizona 14, Arkansas 2, California 14, Colorado 9, Connecticut 2, Florida 1, Georgia 6, Illinois 18, Indiana 7, Iowa 8, Kansas 2, Kentucky 8, Maryland 6, Massachusetts 2, Michigan 6, Minnesota 26, Mississippi 1, Missouri 15, Montana 2, Nebraska 7, Nevada 5, New Hampshire 1, New Jersey 6, New Mexico 2, New York 10, North Carolina 6, Ohio 13, Oklahoma 4, Oregon 6, Pennsylvania 5, Rhode Island 1, South Carolina 9, South Dakota 1, Tennessee 5, Texas 23, Utah 11, Virginia 7, Washington 4, West Virginia 3, Wisconsin 22, Wyoming 1. 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.

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