Three people are dead among the 180 confirmed victims of Salmonella-contaminated cantaloupes from Mexico according to the latest information released in the United States and Canada.
Individuals in 34 US states account for two of the deaths and 117 lab-confirmed outbreak cases as of November 30th, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sixty-one of the victims have been hospitalized.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has reported 63 lab-confirmed cases in five provinces as of November 24th, including 17 hospitalizations and one death.
Both the CDC and the PHAC have warned the public that additional cases are likely to be identified in the coming days.
Multiple recall notices have been posted in both countries in response to the outbreak. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has compiled a list of product recalls and will continue to update the list as required. Similarly, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has posted links to Canadian recalls triggered as a result of the outbreak investigation.
Border Control
The United States
The FDA uses a portfolio of Import Alerts to control the entry of products into the United States that may represent a food safety hazard.
One of these is Import Alert #22-01: Detention Without Physical Examination of Cantaloupes from Mexico.
Since October 20, 2023, the FDA has added four Mexican cantaloupe producers to this list, all of them based in the area around Hermosillo, in the state of Sonora.
- Agricola Orqui S.A. de C.V. (added October 20, 2023)
- Agroexport de Sonora S.A. de C.V. (added November 24, 2023)
- Cassal Productos Del Campo S.A. de CV (added October 26, 2023)
- Vinedo Maria Alejandra S.A. de C.V. (added November 27, 2023)
Canada
The CFIA employs a “System for the Reduction of Contamination Risks,” under which it relies on the Mexican government to certify that producers have met minimum requirements for good agricultural practices and food safety, according to a CFIA spokesperson.
Importers of food into Canada must hold a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licence and have in place a written preventive control plan for food safety hazards.
When asked whether specific actions had been taken to suspend importation of cantaloupes from individual Mexican producers, the CFIA responded that the “…importation of all cantaloupes from Mexico continues based on products meeting Canadian import and food safety requirements.”
The spokesperson added that “The CFIA…is conducting a food safety investigation and collaborating with Mexican authorities and industry to resolve this matter.”
What consumers in Canada and the United States should know
Consumers are advised to discard and not consume Malichita or Rudy any recalled products. If you have whole or pre-cut cantaloupes or fruit cups, fruit platters, or fruit medleys in your home and are unsure of their origin, discard them as a precaution.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.
If you feel unwell, and especially if you have symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, do not cook or prepare food for other people.
If you suspect you are suffering from a Salmonella infection, consult your healthcare provider.
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