Target, Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods sold pre-cut melon that has been linked to a nine-state Salmonella outbreak. So far, 109 people have been sickened and 23 have been hospitalized.
The outbreak strain, Salmonella Carrau, is rare. Cases have been reported from Alabama (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (18), Kentucky (16), Michigan (19), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Ohio (27) and Wisconsin (1).
The melon products, which include chunks, spears, mixes, medleys and fruit trays, were recalled by Caito Foods LLC on April 12, 2019. The recall includes 1110 products that were sold at these stores and distributed to restaurants and food service locations in 16 states. They are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Consumers who shop at these stores and have purchased melon products should not eat them unless they are certain they are not part of the recall. The products were sold under different brand names at each store.
- At Kroger, they were sold under the Renaissance Food Group or Boar’s Head Private Label.
- At Target, they were under the Garden Highway Label.
- At Trader Joe’s, they were sold under the Trader Joes label.
- At Walmart, they were sold under a Freshness Guaranteed label.
- At Whole Foods, they were sold under the Whole Foods Market label.
This is the second Salmonella outbreak during the last 12 months linked to pre-cut melon produced by Caito Foods. In 2018, the Indianapolis-based company was linked to a pre-cut melon Salmonella Adelaide outbreak that sickened 77 people in nine states. Thirty-six people were hospitalized.
The Salmonella lawyers at Pritzker Hageman filed the first lawsuit against Caito in that outbreak. Our client was an Ohio woman who developed a Salmonella infection after eating pre-cut melon she purchased from a Walmart store. Her lengthy hospitalization included a stay in the ICU.
If you are part of 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.