CDC Says Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Clearly Tied to Rocky Ford Melons

Posted on September 13, 2011 by PritzkerLaw

A type of cantaloupe called Rocky Ford cantaloupes of Colorado are the likely source of a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed. There has been one confirmed death and 15 confirmed Listeria illnesses in Colorado (11), Texas (2), Nebraska (1) and Oklahoma (1).

In its first report on the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak, the CDC said other states could also be involved and tests are pending.  New Mexico, for instance, has reported three Listeria deaths in people who recently ate fresh cantaloupe. Six other New Mexico cantaloupe Listeria cases are suspected.

Cantaloupes that belonged to a Listeria case patient in Colorado and others gathered from grocery stores have tested positive for the bacteria and a traceback investigation shows they were harvested in the Rocky Ford region, the CDC reported. Investigators still are trying to pinpoint the cause. Grown in southeast Colorado, the fruit was harvested in August and September and widely distributed in the United States and could be available at various grocery stores nationwide.

"Preliminary results strongly suggest that illnesses are linked to consumption of cantaloupes,'' the CDC said. But no recall has been announced.

CDC now advises persons throughout the mainland United States and at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, to not eat cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.
National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has many years of experience representing victims in multi-millon dollar Listeria death lawsuits and Listeria pregnancy lawsuits. Firm president and founder Fred Pritzker, whose settlements have included a $6 million payout for harms caused by Listeria in sliced turkey, has established a claims center for members of the public who have been affected by the current outbreak. Pritzker's firm has started its own investigation and is in touch with outbreak victims at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by online communication.
 
Colorado Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak Update:
  • All illnesses started on or after August 15, 2011.
  • The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows:  Colorado (11), Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (2).
  • Listeriosis illnesses in New Mexico and several other states are currently being investigated.
  • Ages range from 38 to 96 years, with a median age of 84 years old.
  • Most ill persons are over 60 years old or have health conditions that weaken the immune system. Seventy-three percent of ill persons are female.
  • All 15 confirmed case patients were hospitalized.
  • Laboratory testing by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirms Listeria monocytogenes bacteria on cantaloupe harvested in the Rocky Ford Region.
  • FDA is working closely with CDC, the firms involved, and state public health authorities to determine the exact source of contamination.
  • No recall yet. Specific growers and distributors have not been named.
About 800 cases of Listeria infection are diagnosed each year in the United States, along with 3 or 4 outbreaks of Listeria-associated foodborne illness. The typical foods that cause these outbreaks have been deli meats, hot dogs, and Mexican-style soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Produce is not often identified as a source, but sprouts caused an outbreak in 2009, and celery caused an outbreak in 2010.
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