For immediate release: March 24, 2008  (08-038)

Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076

OLYMPIA ¾ Cantaloupe from Honduras has been implicated in dozens of illnesses across 16 states, including nine cases of salmonellosis in Washington. Cases in our state have been reported in King, Lewis, Pierce, Spokane and Thurston counties.

The outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield illnesses has affected families in King, Lewis, Thurston, Pierce, and Spokane counties. Five of the nine Washington cases were hospitalized. There have been no deaths reported associated with the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert Saturday for Agropecuaria Montelibano brand cantaloupe. Agropecuaria Montelibano is a Honduran cantaloupe grower and packer. FDA is advising grocers, food service operators, and produce processors to remove from their stock any cantaloupes from the company.

Consumers who have recently bought cantaloupes should check with the store to see if the fruit is this Honduran brand. If so, consumers should throw away the cantaloupes.

Anyone that has cantaloupe under that brand name should not eat it; if it’s not possible to identify the brand or determine if it came from Honduras, cantaloupe should be thrown away.

It is thought that most melon contamination is on the rind and is transferred to the inside when a knife cuts through it. The state Department of Health recommends scrubbing the rinds of melons before cutting them up to eat. Rinse the rind with cool water and scrub the outside. Melon that has been cut-up should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Cantaloupe and other melons can grow bacteria on cut surfaces, so the cut melon should always be refrigerated and kept cool.

Salmonella Litchfield can cause an illness known as salmonellosis. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal discomfort, and occasionally vomiting. The symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure. Salmonellosis can be very serious for the young or elderly. Anyone with serious symptoms should consult a health care provider.

More information about salmonellosis (www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/salmonel.htm) is available on the state Department of Health Web site. The Food and Drug Administration Web site (www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01808.html) has specific information about the import alert and other food safety tips.