Cantaloupe Recall Expanded by the FDA as Salmonella Outbreak Worsens

A significant number of Salmonella outbreaks have been recorded recently. There is a case in which six newborns became unwell due to contact with different dog food.

Another example is the most recent recall of cantaloupe, which has just been raised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Salmonella outbreak worsens. According to reports, approximately 100 people were impacted by this fruit that Salmonella infected.

Salmonella Outbreak in the United States

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Salmonella can make anyone sick, but certain groups are more likely to experience severe symptoms than others. These groups include the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with underlying conditions bringing down their immune systems.

There is a high incidence of salmonella infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria is responsible for around 1.35 million human infections and 26,5000 hospitalizations in the United States annually. These infections are costly to treat.

Salmonella illnesses transmitted through food have a yearly cost of $4.1 billion in the United States, as the United States Department of Agriculture reported.

Moreover, based on findings released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November, the company based in Arizona was responsible for transporting cantaloupes directly to 10 states and Canada through various retail outlets.

On the other hand, the fruits may have also gained access to retail establishments in neighboring states. The cantaloupes were sold from Oct. 16 to 23 and were packaged in cardboard cartons with a label that said "Malichita."

Number of Confirmed Patients Due to the Contaminated Cantaloupe

On Nov. 24, a report said that 63 people in Canada have been ill as a result of an outbreak that is connected to cantaloupe. Of those sickened, 17 were hospitalized, and one person passed away. Mexico was the source of the cantaloupe that was discovered to be contaminated in both countries.

While on Nov. 30, the number of confirmed patients in the United States increased by 18 to 117. It has been determined that at least 61 of the patients have required hospitalization, and two individuals have passed away. Food and Drug Administration asserted that the outbreak has spread to 34 states.

As per the most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), interviews with sick people and laboratory data continue to demonstrate that cantaloupes are the source of illness for those affected by this outbreak. This outbreak is causing concern for the CDC because of the severity of the infections, which have resulted in over 50% of the population being hospitalized. Additionally, those who are residing in long-term care institutions and childcare centers have also become ill.

Furthermore, the United States of America has begun recalling other products. In response to the recall issued by TrueFresh, the GHGA issued a recall for pre-cut fruit items prepared from the entire cantaloupe.

Accordingly, 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 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee were all responsible for the distribution of GHGA items that were recalled. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 8, the GHGA items that have been identified have their sell-by dates.