Cantaloupe Recall Not Issued Nationally, But Albuquerque has Issued a Recall of Rocky Ford Cantaloupe
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Our attorneys are investigating a Listeria outbreak in several states linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown in Colorado. Contact our law firm for a free consultation.
A national cantaloupe recall has not been ordered by government officials or undertaken by producers, but grocery stores in Colorado are voluntarily pulling Rocky Ford melons from their shelves in response to a listeriosis outbreak associated with the fruit, according to a story in the Denver Post.
King Soopers, Safeway and Whole Foods are removing the melons from their stores. King Soopers and City Market stores are removing Rocky Ford melons from 142 stores, and Safeway is removing the melons from its 138 stores in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and New Mexico, according to the story. Wholes Foods is removing the cantaloupes from its shelves.
The cantaloupe recall informally undertaken by the grocery stores is in response to a listeriosis outbreak associated with eating cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford growing region in Colorado.
Albuquerque, where three people died, has issued its own recall: (Updated September 14, 2011.)
Based on a Department of Health advisory, the City of Albuquerque, Environmental Health Department, Consumer Health Protection Division is issuing a voluntary recall notice to local produce retailers, requesting that cantaloupe grownin the Rocky Ford growing area of southern Colorado be temporarily pulled from store shelves. This action is being taken as a precaution pending findings of an FDA investigation into several cases of illness and at least 3 deaths. Preliminary indications suggest that several cases of food-borne Listeriosishave been linked to consumption of cantaloupe.
Citizens are advised to refrain from purchasing or handling cantaloupe grown in the Rocky Ford growing area. If cantaloupe has already been purchased, citizens should not eat the product; thorough hand-washing and sanitation of food preparation areas is advised if the product has already been handled.
Listeriosis is a bacterial infection associated with certain food products. Symptoms can range from mild gastro-intestinal upset to severe symptoms including meningitis and death. Onset is typically within 48 hours for gastro-intestinal symptoms; meningitis could take up 2-6 weeks to develop.
If you contracted listeriosis associated with this outbreak and need legal advice, contact the Listeria experts at PritzkerOlsen, P.A toll free at 1(888)377-8900.
