Honduran Cantaloupes Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella
Contamination
April
1, 2008—Denver—The Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment’s
Consumer Protection Division Monday advised consumers who
may have
purchased cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an
independent
third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo
Valle,
Honduras, to dispose of them or return them to the place of
purchase for
a full refund as the products have been linked to an
outbreak of
salmonella infection in the United States and Canada.
Initially, a product recall on the Honduran cantaloupes was
issued by
the distributor, Central American Produce Inc. of Pompano
Beach, Fla.,
on March 24. Since then, several wholesalers and grocery
stores that
distributed the recalled melons have begun issuing recalls
of specific
products identified in this news release. One confirmed
illness in Colorado has been associated with the
distribution of the product in early March. Recalled
products that may be in Colorado are listed below:
- Simply Fresh Fruit - Simply Fresh Fruit brand food
service Fruit
Mix in Syrup, products dated “sell by 4 18 08” or earlier;
food
service Cantaloupe Chunks in Syrup, products dated “sell by
4 8 08”
or earlier; and retail and club store Simply Fresh, Fresh
Cut Fruit
Brand containing cantaloupe dated “sell by 3 29 08”or
earlier. Food
service distributors that sell their own brand have been
notified and
are recalling the products involved. Food service products
are packed
in plastic pails or jars; retail products are packed in
plastic trays.
- Dole Fresh Fruit Company - Honduran cantaloupes. The
cantaloupes
were distributed in cardboard cartons with the brand "Dole"
and "PRODUCE
OF HONDURAS" printed on each of the side panels of the
carton.
- Bounty Fresh, LLC - Cantaloupes are packed three
melons in a
sleeve under the brand name “Chestnut Hill Farms,” and one
melon per
sleeve under the brand name “Perfect Melon.” Individual
melons are
not labeled, but sleeves contain tags that say either
“Perfect
Melon” or “Chestnut Hill Farms.” Whole cantaloupes were sold
in
boxes marked with “Cantaloupe,” “Chestnut Hill Farms” (3
count)
or “Perfect Melon” (one count), “PRODUCE OF HONDURAS, Grown,
Packed and Shipped by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo,
Valle,
Honduras.” All boxes also contain the Chestnut Hill Farms
logo.
- Chiquita Brands, International, Inc. and Central
American
Produce - Cantaloupes were distributed in cardboard cartons
with the
brands "Mike's Melons," "Mayan Pride" and "Chiquita" all
showing
"PRODUCE OF HONDURAS" printed on each of the side panels of
the carton.
The address of the shipper that appears on one end panel of
the carton
says, “Grown, Packed and Shipped by Agropecuaria Montelibano,
San
Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras.”
Other distributors conducting recalls, although Colorado
distribution
was not verified, include T.M. Kovacevich Inc., Tropifresh
Inc., Spokane
Produce Inc., and Charlie’s Produce. Daniel Rifkin,
Wholesale Food Program manager for the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment’s Consumer
Protection
Division, said “People infected with Salmonella may
experience a
variety of symptoms and illnesses. Healthy persons infected
with
Salmonella often experience fever; diarrhea, which may be
bloody;
nausea; vomiting and abdominal cramps. In rare
circumstances, infection
with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses and can
be
fatal.” Consumers with questions may visit the U.S. Food
and Drug
Administration’s Web site at www.fda.gov for more inform
ation. Daniel
Rifkin of the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment also
may be reached at 303-692-3644. --30-- |
