Fresh-cut fruit salmonella outbreak probe underway as CDC releases recall, risk details
Public-health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to fresh-cut fruit sold at Whole Foods, Costco, Trader Joe's and other major retailers in the Midwest that has the potential to spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The latest foodborne illness warning comes as Lower Hudson Valley consumers remained on guard after high-profile outbreaks involving romaine lettuce and popular Westchester County eateries.
A total of 60 people have been infected with the outbreak strain in five Midwestern states, with 31 hospitalized, CDC says, and no deaths have been reported.
Preliminary evidence indicates that pre-cut melon supplied by Caito Foods, LLC of Indianapolis, Ind., is a likely source of this multi-state outbreak, CDC says, and the investigation is ongoing to determine if products went to additional stores or states.
Most of the ill people reported eating pre-cut cantaloupe, watermelon, or a fruit salad mix with melon purchased from grocery stores.
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Information collected from stores where ill people shopped indicates that Caito Foods, LLC supplied pre-cut melon to these stores, CDC says. The recalled products were distributed Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Recalled products were sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon, CDC says.
Here are consumer tips from the CDC on the situation:
- Do not eat recalled products. Check your fridge and freezer for them and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
- If you don’t remember where you bought pre-cut melon, don’t eat it and throw it away.
- Retailers should not sell or serve recalled pre-cut melon products distributed by Caito Foods Distribution, Gordon Food Service, and SpartanNash Distribution.
CDC will update the advice to consumers and retailers if more information becomes available.
For further details, check the CDC outbreak website here.