Cantaloupe recall expanded after salmonella outbreak that's left 2 dead, 45 hospitalized

The CDC reports a total of 99 salmonella cases in 32 states, including Texas. Two people have died.

HOUSTON — Fresh cantaloupes sold in Texas and at least 32 other states are blamed for salmonella poisoning that’s made nearly 100 people sick and caused two deaths, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

As of November 24, the Centers for Disease Control reports 99 cases, including 45 that required hospitalization.

Editor’s note: The video above originally aired on 11/20.

The recall includes whole cantaloupes sold by Crown Jewels Produce, Sofia Produce, under the TruFresh label, and CF Dallas, the CDC said.

They have a label that says “Malichita” or “Rudy”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique,” according to the Food and Drug Administration.

They were sold in ALDI, which sent out an alert on Nov. 14 that also included cantaloupe chunks and pineapple spears with Best-by dates between October 27 and October 31. At that time, ALDI said it wasn’t aware of any illnesses associated with the products.

FDA recommendations

• Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and wholesalers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled cantaloupe or recalled products containing cantaloupe.
• Some consumers freeze cantaloupe for later use. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should check their freezers and throw away recalled fresh or cut cantaloupe that was frozen for later use.
• If you cannot tell if your cantaloupe is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.
• Retailers and wholesalers would have received recalled whole melons from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malachita/Z Farms” or from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy.”

UPDATE on the outbreak of Salmonella in cantaloupes. As of today, CDC reported 99 illness cases from 32 states. Several companies issued recalls of fresh whole cantaloupes & fresh cut fruit products made from whole cantaloupe https://t.co/JRIsBHMPTw pic.twitter.com/4edvTrEblY

— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition) (@FDAfood) November 24, 2023

Symptoms of Salmonella infection

• Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food
• It usually lasts four to seven days.
• Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
• Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

KHOU 11 on social media: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube