Cantaloupe Recall in New Mexico
The New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Environmental Health Bureau, in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) issued a voluntary recall notice to all state produce retailers, requesting that any cantaloupe grown in the Rocky Ford growing area of southern Colorado be temporarily pulled from store shelves. The recall was prompted by a multistate listeriosis outbreak linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe.
Ongoing collaborative investigations by local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate the likely source of the outbreak is a type of cantaloupe, called Rocky Ford cantaloupes, which are grown in the Rocky Ford region of southeastern Colorado. These cantaloupes were harvested in August and September, distributed widely in the United States. New Mexican residents should refrain from purchasing or handling cantaloupe grown in the Rocky Ford growing area. If cantaloupe has already been purchased, citizens are recommended not to eat the cantaloupe and asked to throw it away. (Note from Pritzker Olsen Attorneys: If someone was sickened by the cantloupe, it may be evidence in a lawsuit against the cantaloupe grower and others. Contact our law firm for a free consultation.)
The New Mexico Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising people at high risk for listeriosis (older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women) to not eat cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.
What is the Evidence Implicating Rocky Ford Cantaloupe?
Ill persons were interviewed about exposures during the month before becoming ill; investigators compared their responses to persons with listeriosis reported through the CDC Listeria Initiative, whose illnesses were not part of this outbreak. Preliminary results strongly suggest that illnesses are linked to consumption of cantaloupes. Several ill persons who remembered the type of cantaloupe said they were Rocky Ford cantaloupes. Preliminary source tracing of the cantaloupes persons ate indicated they were marketed as cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford region.
Laboratory testing by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment identified Listeria monocytogenes bacteriaon cantaloupe collected from grocery stores and from an ill person’s home. Product traceback information from Colorado State officials indicated these cantaloupes were marketed as cantaloupes harvested in the Rocky Ford region. FDA is working closely with CDC, the firms involved, and public health authorities in states where illnesses occurred to determine the exact source of contamination.
The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) has identified ten cases of Listeria infection to date, with three of these cases resulting in death. In New Mexico, all 9 patients who have been interviewed reported eating cantaloupe prior to illness.
What is the Status of the Cantaloupe Outbreak in New Mexico?
All of the ill people in New Mexico have been hospitalized, including the three fatalities. The fatal cases were: a 93-year-old man from Bernalillo County, a 61-year-old female from Curry County, and a 63-year-old man from Bernalillo County. The other hospitalized cases in New Mexico come from Bernalillo, Chaves, Otero, De Baca, Valencia and Lea counties. The ill people range in age from the 43 to 96 and include 4 men and 6 women. Illness onset ranges from August 20th to early September.
Cantaloupe Food Poisoning Prevention from NMED
General Melon Safety Advice:
- Consumers and food preparers should wash their hands before and after handling any whole melon, such as cantaloupe, watermelon, or honeydew.
- Wash the melons and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel before cutting.
- Cut melon should be promptly consumed or refrigerated at or less than 40 degrees F (32-34 degrees F is optimal for storage of cut melon).
- Cut melons left at room temperature for more than 4 hours should be discarded.
What is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important public health problem in the United States. A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has “invasive” infection (sepsis), in which the bacteria spread from the intestines to the blood stream or other body sites. Complications of listeriosis include: Listeria meningitis, hydrocephalus, and wrongful death.
The symptoms of listeriosis vary with the infected person:
- Persons other than pregnant women: Symptoms, in addition to fever and muscle aches, can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only a mild, flu-like illness. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Pritzker Olsen attorneys represent listeriosis outbreak victims nationwide. They have won millions for their clients in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against growers, distributors, retailers and restaurants. Our attorneys have had leadership positions on multistate litigation (MDL) panels. An MDL is like a class action lawsuit but only the pretrial procedures are consolidated.
Albuquerque also issued a recall of Rocky Ford cantaloupe after two people in the area died and several others were sickened. Other cities in New Mexico include Carlsbad, Clovis, Farmington, Las Cruces, Roswell and Sante Fe.
Tags: Cantaloupe Food Poisoning, Cantaloupe Lawsuit, Cantaloupe Recall, Listeria, Listeria Lawyer, Listeriosis, Listeriosis Recall, New Mexico Cantaloupe Outbreak
