Salmonella-Tainted Cantaloupe: 8 Now Dead, Over 100 Hospitalized

ACROSS AMERICA — A salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe has left at least eight people dead and 140 people hospitalized across the United States. and Canada, health officials in the two countries said.

Three deaths have been tied to the fruit in the United States, and five have died in Canada

That's according to the most recent data published Thursday by health officials in both countries. In America, two deaths were reported in Minnesota, and the most recent was in Oregon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its update Thursday.

Ninety-six people have been hospitalized in the United States, along with 44 in Canada. Patients in both countries range from babies to older adults up to 100 years old.

Since the CDCs last update Nov. 30, 113 more illnesses have been reported in the United States, bringing the tally to 230 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella. The true number of sick people in the outbreak is likely much higher, as many people recover without medical care and are not tested for the infection. Recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

The cases span 38 states, with at least six to 20 cases reported in numerous states such as California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, New York and South Carolina.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 16-Nov. 20.

Twenty-four people who live at long-term care facilities fell ill with the infection, and 23 children attended childcare centers when they got sick.

As Patch previously reported, a massive cantaloupe recall continued to expand nationwide this month since the initial recall was announced Nov. 17.

Whole Cantaloupe Recall Update

In an update published Thursday on the FDA's website, regulators said whole fresh cantaloupes with a label that said “Malichita” or “Rudy”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique” were recalled.

Additionally, stores would have received recalled whole melons from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malichita/Z Farms” or from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy,” or from Pacific Trellis in corrugated cartons with certain lot codes.

Pre-Cut Cantaloupe Recall Expands

• Aldi Pre-cut cantaloupe and pineapple spears in clamshell packages were sold at Aldi stores with best-by dates between Oct. 27- 31 and sold in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

• 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 Oct. 30-Nov. 10 in Oklahoma stores.
• Freshness Guaranteed (sold at select Walmart stores) 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. Recalled products were sold at select retail stores in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana (see recall announcement for lot codes and “best by” dates).
• KwikTrip 6-oz mixed fruit cup, 6-oz cantaloupe cup, and 16-oz fruit tray distributed to Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa Michigan, Illinois and South Dakota.
• Bix Produce 5.75-oz Created Fresh! cantaloupe Grab N’ Go fruit cups, Created Fresh! Grab N’ Go mixed fruit cups, and Jack & Olive mixed fruit cups sold in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
• GHGA pre-cut products containing cantaloupe branded as Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joes, and unbranded products sold at Kroger. Recalled 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 Alamaba, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee (see recall for lot codes and “sell-by” dates).
• Cut Fruit Express Caribou Coffee Fruit Mix CHPG 6.5oz and Cut Fruit Express-brand of 6.5oz, 15oz, 16oz, 32oz packages of Fruit Mix containing cantaloupes. This recall also includes food service packages of cantaloupe chunks and fruit mixes containing cantaloupe.
• TGD Cuts, LLC fresh-cut fruit cup, clamshell and tray products containing cantaloupe.

Symptoms

Most people with salmonella experience symptoms such as diarrhea (that can be bloody), fever and stomach cramps. Some people may also have nausea, vomiting, or a headache.

Symptoms usually start within six hours or six days, and last up to a week.

Those at higher risk for serious illness include older adults and young children, as well as people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.