Colorado Listeria Questions Answered
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued guidance to consumers about the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak that has killed 23 people across the country, including five Coloradans.
Whole melons from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado, are to blame for the outbreak, which also has caused at least one miscarriage and sickened a least 116 people in 25 states. In Colorado, the five who died and 34 who were sickened were from Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Larimer, Montezuma, and Weld counties. These people range in age from the 30s to the 90s, with an average age of 75 years. The majority of patients are female.
Colorado cantaloupe lawsuit information and free case consultations are available by calling national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information online and a Listeria lawyer will call you.
Highlights from the Colorado state Pdf on listeriosis from cantaloupe:
Can I remove Listeria by washing my cantaloupe?
It is not clear if washing cantaloupe would remove all Listeria monocytogenes that could potentially be on the surface. It is also possible that Listeria may be on the inside of the cantaloupe.
Can Listeria infection be treated?
Antibiotics given promptly can cure the illness and prevent infection of the fetus in pregnant women. Even with prompt treatment, some Listeria infections result in death. This is particularly likely in older adults and in people with other serious medical problems.
What do I do if I think I am infected with Listeria?
If you have symptoms, you should immediately consult with a health care provider.
What food item is causing the outbreak?
Investigation findings have indicated that cantaloupe produced by Jensen Farms is the source of Listeria causing the outbreak. Jensen Farms cantaloupe was marketed as “Rocky Ford” cantaloupe and may or may not have a sticker identifying them as Jensen Farms cantaloupes.
