Cantaloupe outbreak declared over | Food Safety News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of Salmonella Newport traced to cantaloupe is over.
The agency had not previously reported the outbreak to the general public.
The outbreak has sickened at least 70 people in 25 states. There were likely many more people infected during the outbreak because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for salmonella. For every confirmed person, there are up to 29 other patients with an outbreak, according to the CDC.
The Salmonella Newport strain involved in the outbreak was linked to cantaloupe imported from Guatemala by Ayco Farms Inc. of Pompano Beach, Fla., according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Once Ayco Farms was identified as a common supplier, the FDA worked with the company to determine whether the product was available to customers. Although imported cantaloupe is likely past its expiration date and no longer on the market, Ayco Farms has issued a recall to ensure that downstream customers do not further process and extend the shelf life of the cantaloupe involved.
According to the FDA, there appears to be no ongoing public health risk and there is no recommendation for consumers to avoid cantaloupe in general.
As part of the outbreak investigation, the FDA placed Ayco San Jorge Y Compania Limitada and Agrobassy Y Cia Ltda on Import Alert 99-35, which subjects those companies’ cantaloupes to automatic detention without a physical examination.
No products from these companies will enter the U.S. market until the companies demonstrate that they have overcome the violations that gave rise to this action. The FDA investigation is ongoing.
