The Salmonella outbreak linked to pre-cut melon has expanded to include 117 people in 10 states. Thirty-two people have been hospitalized, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the last update on April 12, the outbreak has expanded from nine states to ten and added 24 more illnesses.
On April 12, Caito Foods LLC issued a recall for pre-cut melon sold in clear plastic packages. The recall of 110 different products included packages of chunks, spears, mixes, and fruit trays. They were distributed to restaurants and grocery stores in 16 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Grocery stores sold the products under their own brand names. At Kroger they were sold under the Renaissance Food Group or Boar’s Head Private Label. At Target they were sold under the Garden Highway Label. At Walmart under a Freshness Guaranteed label. And under the Trader Joe’s label at Trader Joe’s and the Whole Foods Market Label at Whole Foods.
This is the second pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak linked to Caito Foods within the last year. Salmonella lawyers at Pritzker Hageman filed the first lawsuit against Caito in the 2018 outbreak on behalf of an Ohio woman who was hospitalized. She had developed a pervasive Salmonella infection after eating pre-cut melon she purchased from a Walmart store.
The case-patients in this outbreak, who range in age from less than one year old to 98 years old, reported onset of symptoms from March 4, 2019, to April 8, 2019. During interviews with health officials, they reported eating pre-cut cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, or a mixed fruit salad or fruit tray with melon before they became ill.
The number of cases reported from each state is: Alabama (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (7), Indiana (23), Kentiucky (21), Michiagn (22), Minnesota (3), Missouri (7), Ohio (31) and Wisconsin (1).
If you have a Salmonella infection linked to this outbreak and would like a free consultation with a member of our Salmonella Team, call 1 (888) 377-8900, send a text to 612-261-0856. Or, complete the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.