Colorado Listeria Outbreak: Cantaloupe Likely Source

News sources are reporting that a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, centered in Colorado, has been associated with consumption of cantaloupe. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a release that it

…has identified nine cases linked to a multistate Listeria outbreak. Preliminary results have identified cantaloupe as the likely source of the state’s Listeria outbreak. While the state initially reported 13 Listeria cases, just nine of those cases are linked to the multistate outbreak investigation, which includes two potentially related cases in Texas and one in Nebraska. Colorado’s remaining four cases either have lab results pending or are not linked to the multistate investigation.

Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks involving fresh cantaloupe are uncommon but not surprising. The pathogen has been detected in a number of fresh market produce items including cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, and radishes among others. Moreover, cantaloupes have repeatedly been implicated in outbreaks involving Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Norovirus.

The law firm of Pritzker Olsen, P.A. has more experience involving outbreaks of Listeria monocytogenes than any firm in the United States. It has been involved in every major Listeria outbreak and has collected millions of dollars on behalf of Listeria survivors and the families of people killed by this dreaded disease. The firm has also obtained the largest individual recoveries for Listeria victims, with many in excess of $1 million.

Listeria and Listeriosis Information

Listeriosis, the illness resulting from consumption of food adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, is a serious infection. Compared with most other foodborne pathogens, Listeriosis is rare and very dangerous. In the United States, an estimated 1,600 persons become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 260 die. The following groups are at increased risk:

Pregnant women: Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one in six (17%) cases of listeriosis occurs during pregnancy.

Newborns: Newborns suffer the most serious effects of infection in pregnancy.

Persons with weakened immune systems from transplants or certain diseases, therapies, or medications.

Persons with cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, liver or kidney disease.

Persons with AIDS: They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.

Older adults

One of the difficulties in “tracing back” the source of a listeriosis outbreak is the long incubation period from food consumption to symptom manifestation. In the case of Listeriosis, the incubation period can be as long as 70 days (but symptoms usually appear within a month). Given that length of time and the rapid and severe illness that results, it is much harder to identify the food consumed and the source of that food so long after it was eaten.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria found in soil and water. Listeriosis outbreaks often involve ready-to eat hot dogs, deli meats, unpasteurized soft cheeses, and smoked seafood. Listeria monocytogenes is resistant to cold temperatures and may survive in foods not subjected to heating. The only way to effectively kill off Listeria monocytogenes in food products is to heat the food to a temperature of 160 degrees.

If you or a loved one has been harmed in this Listeria outbreak, you should contact the law firm of Pritzker Olsen, P.A. for a free consultation. Call toll-free today at 888-377-8900 or via email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com.

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