Salmonella Threat Prompts Cantaloupe Recall In 20 States

ACROSS AMERICA — An Arizona produce company has recalled 6,456 cases of whole cantaloupes distributed in national grocery stores in multiple states because they could be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

Sold by Scottsdale-based Eagle Produce LLC under the Kandy brand, the suspect cantaloupe was distributed Sept. 5-16 to various supermarkets in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

The Food and Drug Administration said the agency disocered the potential for salmonella contamination during a test at a distribution facility. The cantaloupe subject to the recall are:

No other products or lot codes are affected by the recall.

There have been no reported illnesses. Anyone who has gotten sick after eating the product should contact a health care provider, the FDA said.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatl infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and abdominal pain.

In rare cases, the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illness such as aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis.

People who bought any of the affected melons should throw them in the garbage. Questions may be directed to Eagle Produce LLC at 800-627-8674 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.