Idaho Cantaloupe Listeria Warning
Idaho received a donated shipment of Jensen Farms cantaloupes in late August that went to senior centers, food banks and an elementary center. Now public health officials are investigating at least one Idaho Listeria illness -- a Jerome County woman in her 60s who contracted listeriosis in early September, possibly from cantaloupe. She was hospitalized, but has recovered.
Idaho would become the 19th state included in the Jensen Farms Frontera cantaloupe outbreak that has killed at least 16 people, sickened 72 and triggered a national warning from federal health officials for people not to eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen of Holly, Colorado. If you're in doubt about the cantaloupe's origin, throw it out.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said the melons were shipped from Jensen Farms to Select Express in Aberdeen. They were too ripe to be commercially sold, so Select Express donated the fruit weeks before it was recalled. Most of the donated melons have probably been eaten or disposed of by now. Still, health officials are warning people who think they might have some of the contaminated melons to throw them away. Those who ate the cantaloupe should continue to watch for Listeria symptoms and seek medical attention if they occur within 70 days.
A cantaloupe lawsuit will begin to address harms caused by this outbreak. National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represents survivors of two people who recently died from listeriosis and is accepting additional cases. Free consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by providing contact information online. A Listeria lawyer will call you.
PritzkerOlsen founder and president Fred Pritzker has been a national leader in Listeria litigation, winning what are considered the country's largest multi-million dollar settlements in Listeria food poisoning lawsuits. He has been a resource to the media during this outbreak and has written his own commentary on why this crisis was preventable.
