Cantaloupe has been linked to dozens of food poisoning outbreaks over the years, some of them fatal. These outbreaks were caused by a variety of pathogens including Campylobacter, Listeria, Norovirus, and Salmonella which researchers believe can adhere to the melons because of the netted surface.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have participated in a research project to develop cantaloupe with a different netting. But until that product comes to market, there are some steps consumers can take to reduce the risk of food poisoning from cantaloupe.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Cantaloupe
To properly clean and sanitise cantaloupe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Purdue University researchers recommend the following steps:
- Store whole and cut cantaloupe below 40˚F
- Before cutting, wash the cantaloupe under running water with a brush
- Before cutting, use a sanitizer such as household bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, iodine, or hot water
- Use clean utensils and cutting boards to avoid cross-contamination.
To sanitize using bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or iodine submerge the whole melon into a diluted solution for five to 10 minutes. Below is a chart with recommended ratios prepared by Purdue University researchers.
Source: Purdue University Home Food Safety: Use of Readily Available Sanitizers on Cantaloupes
To sanitize cantaloupe using hot water, Purdue researchers recommend the following process:
Source: Purdue University Home Food Safety: Use of Readily Available Sanitizers on Cantaloupes
Cantaloupe Food Poisoning Outbreaks
Between 1984 and 2002, cantaloupe was identified as the source of 23 food poisoning outbreaks. Together, these outbreaks sickened 1,434 people. Forty-two people were hospitalized, two of them died.
Source: Infections associated with cantaloupe consumption: a public health concern
Between 2008 and 2022, cantaloupe was linked to at least seven multistate Salmonella or Listeria outbreaks. Together, these outbreaks sickened a total of 780 people, killing 36 of them.
In 2022, a cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak sickened 88 people in 11 states – Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Thirty-two people were hospitalized.
Experienced Food Poisoning Lawyers
If you or a family member have been sickened by contaminated cantaloupe and you would like a free consultation with one of our experienced food poisoning lawyers please contact us today. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or completing the form below. There is no obligation and you never owe anything at all unless we win.