Whole and Cut Cantaloupe Recalled for Potential Salmonella Contamination Discovered Through State Testing

Meijer, in conjunction with Eagle Produce, LLC in Aguila, AZ., is recalling of whole cantaloupe and select cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls due to the potential risk of Salmonella after sampling by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.  There have been no reported illnesses.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/meijer-recalls-whole-cantaloupes-and-select-cut-cantaloupe-trays-due-potential-health-risk
Meijer Recalls Whole Cantaloupes and Select Cut Cantaloupe Trays Due to Potential Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  October 07, 2020
FDA Publish Date:  October 07, 2020
Product Type:  Food & Beverages   Fruit/Fruit Product
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  Meijer
Brand Name:  Kandy Brand, Meijer Brand
Product Description:  Whole Cantaloupe, Select Cut Cantaloupe Fruit Trays & Bowls

Canada - CFIA Announces Recall of Canteloupes Due to Salmonella

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that Freshpoint of Vancouver is recalling Del Monte and Sysco cantaloupes after the Agency tested and found positive Salmonella samples.  There have been no injuries to date.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Recall Notice
http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/newsroom/food-recall-warnings/complete-listing/2016-02-18b/eng/1455857994320/1455858000091
Food Recall Warning - Del Monte and Sysco Imperial Fresh brand cantaloupes distributed by Freshpoint Vancouver, Ltd. recalled due to Salmonella

FDA Listeria Sampling at Cantaloupe Packing Houses

In a recent sampling of cantaloupe packing houses, FDA testing results found that while Listeria was present, there was little risk in the facilities.  Of 17 facilities, 8 had Listeria species present and only one had Listeria monocytogenes, (but probably not food contact).  The FDA found some problems:

• food contact surfaces that were not cleanable, often due to construction with damaged, corroded, or porous materials;
• build-up of debris, dirt and damaged plant material on equipment;
• hand washing facilities in inappropriate locations; and
• drain valves left open during work hours allowing water drained from a dump tank to pool outside adjacent to a partially-enclosed packinghouse.

But these would be typical issues seen in packing houses.  The concern of course, relates back to the 2011 Listeria outbreak associated with cantaloupes.  In that case, unsanitary equipment lead to a buildup of Listeria in the wash water which subsequently contaminated the surface of the cantaloupes.  

 

Facilities have been taking corrective action, but clearly, more work is needed.  And with Listeria, continual vigilance is needed in order to control.  One never completely rids a facility of the presence, rather it is kept in check.

The Packer
http://www.thepacker.com/news/fda-reports-cantaloupe-safety-inspections
FDA reports on cantaloupe safety inspections
By Coral Beach August 06, 2015 | 2:04 pm EDT

After inspecting 17 operations, federal officials report that fresh cantaloupe packinghouses are generally following good agriculture practices even though tests at nine of the companies showed listeria contamination.

The inspections by the Food and Drug Administration were part of the agency’s follow-up efforts after a 2011 cantaloupe-related listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened more than 150 nationwide and killed more than 30.

Jensen brothers sentenced for selling Listeria-contaminated cantaloupes that killed 33 people

The Jensen brothers were sentenced to five years' probation, including six months in home detention and a ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution in connection with the selling Listeria-contaminated cantaloupes that killed 33 people.

 

At sentencing, cantaloupe growers apologize for deadly listeria outbreak
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/28/justice/cantaloupe-listeria-deaths-sentencing/
By Ray Sanchez, CNN
updated 8:11 PM EST, Tue January 28, 2014

(CNN) -- A pair of Colorado farmers were sentenced Tuesday to five years' probation, including six months in home detention, for their role in a 2011 listeriosis outbreak that killed roughly three dozen Americans who consumed infected cantaloupe, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen, who grew up cultivating cantaloupes on Jensen Farms, a fixture in the dry plains of southeastern Colorado since the early 1900s, also were sentenced to 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution in connection with the deadliest food outbreak in the United States in nearly 100 years.

Each apologized in court to the victims' families.

Jensen brothers plead guilty, look to sue auditing firm

Two interesting stories in The Packer (below) – the Jensen brothers arrested as part of the outbreak related to Listeria in cantaloupes (http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2013/09/jenson-brothers-growers-of-tainted.html), plan to plead guilty to the charges. Additionally, they are looking to sue the auditing firm who gave them a 96 out of 100. 

The last point is interesting in that they are basically looking to blame the firm for not giving them a harder audit, and for mot have a complete understanding their entire process. I wonder if the auditing firm was involved when they made the decision to use a potato washer for cleaning and cooling cantaloupes….probably not. As we say, 3rd party audits are snapshots of the operation, but are not designed to do microbiological evaluations of an operation unless there are blatant issues. Processors need to know their processes better than the inspectors, and if they are relying on inspectors to tell them how to process, they need not to be in business.

Jenson Brothers, Growers of Tainted Canteloupes, Arrested

The Jensen brothers, owners of the farm that grew and packed the Listeria tainted cantaloupes which were responsible for killing 33, have been arrested and now face jail time for the incident. This is in addition to having their farm go bankrupt, one owned by the family for generations. 

This case is a huge deal for all food operations in that owners/managers are facing prison for a foodborne outbreak. While all basically agree that there was no intent by the Jensen brothers, it is the fact that the shipped contaminated product from an operation with food safety lapses that have led to the misdemeanor charges, where intent is not a factor. The food safety lapses can be summed up”

1) They installed a potato washer to wash cantaloupes. It did not wash cantaloupes well, it did not cool them, and the equipment was not easy to clean. Because it was not easy to clean, it actually served as a source of contamination. By not cooling, the warmer temperatures provided better growing conditions for Listeria on the outside of the cantaloupe.

2) The chlorine sanitizer spray system was not operational.

The later point is worth noting. In certain applications, it is easy to overlook these microbial reduction interventions. Who knows, perhaps the location of the spray nozzles were located at a point where the chlorine would be quickly inactivated because of the solids on the cantaloupes, so they decided not to hook them up. 

It can be easy to look at a number of bacterial reduction interventions and wonder if there is a significant impact versus the cost of operating that intervention, or operating it at the level it should be operated. Or even maintaining the appropriate verification steps (checking concentration, conducing bacterial counts before and after) to ensure that the intervention is operating at that level it is supposed to be operating. 

So when the unfortunate event occurs, in this case one of the most deadly foodborne outbreaks in US history, investigators are going to look at everything - Is the process right for the products it is processing? Are the appropriate antimicrobial systems in place that are standard in the industry? Are the antimicrobials systems that are in place working, and are they operating at the right parameters? 

Companies need to use this case as a reason to review all processes, with specific attention to these antimicrobial interventions. If a system is in place, make sure it is working as it designed. If these systems are not operating, then either fix it. If they have been abandoned, then move it, replace it or remove it.

Note that these brothers are just farmers, one 37 years old, and the other 33. While the thought of jail time probably pales in comparison to the responsibility for 33 deaths, they probably wonder how some poor decisions led to where they are now.


United States Attorney’s Office – District of Colorado
New Release
http://www.justice.gov/usao/co/index.html

Eric and Ryan Jensen charged with introducing tainted cantaloupe into interstate commerceFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 26, 2013

DENVER – Eric Jensen, age 37, and Ryan Jensen, age 33, brothers who owned and operated Jensen Farms, located in Granada, Colorado, presented themselves to U.S. Marshals in Denver today, where taken into custody on federal charges brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigation, United States Attorney John Walsh and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Patrick Holland announced. The Information charges the brothers with introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial appearance this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty. At that hearing they will be advised of their rights as well as the charges pending against them.

According to the six-count Information filed under restriction on September 24, 2013, as well as other court records, Eric and Ryan Jensen allegedly introduced adulterated cantaloupe into interstate commerce. Specifically, the cantaloupe bore a poisonous bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. The Information further states that the cantaloupe was prepared, packed and held under conditions which rendered it injurious to health.

Cantaloupes linked to Salmonella outbreak with over 140 ill

UPDATE 8/22/12
Chamberlin Farm Produce has been identified as the grower of the cantaloupe responsible for the salmonella outbreak, now with some 178 sticken.  The company is recalling all of it cantaloupes from the 2012 growing season.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm316681.htm

8/20/12
CDC is reporting that there are over 140 cases of salmonellosis with 2 deaths linked to cantaloupes which were grown in southwestern Indiana. Cases have been reported from 20 different states.

There have been a number of outbreaks linked to cantaloupes, including the Jensen Farm outbreak last year. The reason for the higher risk associated with cantaloupes is the rough exterior surface which makes cleaning ‘to a microbiological level in order to remove pathogens’ difficult. Additionally, cantaloupes are not acidic, and the interior can support the growth of bacteria once sliced 

It is important that farmers practice Good Agricultural Practices, or GAPs when growing, harvesting, and packing cantaloupes. Consumers should purchase cantaloupes that are not bruised are damaged. Before eating, consumers should scrub melons with a brush under running tap water before cutting and then refrigerate any sliced melon that is not immediately consumed.  

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Cantaloupe

CDC Release 8/17/12

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-cantaloupe-08-12/index.html

Highlights

A total of 141 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 20 states.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (7), Arkansas (3), California (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (17), Indiana (13), Iowa (7), Kentucky (50), Michigan (6), Minnesota (3), Missouri (9), Mississippi (2), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (1), and Wisconsin (2).

31 ill persons have been hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported in Kentucky.

Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana is a likely source of this outbreak.

As a result of the initial investigations by the state health departments in Indiana and Kentucky, a farm in southwestern Indiana has contacted its distributors, which reach outside Indiana into other states, and is withdrawing its cantaloupe from the market place. The farm has agreed to cease distributing cantaloupes for the rest of the growing season.

Consumers who recently purchased cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana are advised not to eat them and discard any remaining cantaloupe.

Based on the available information, consumers can continue to purchase and eat cantaloupes that did not originate in southwestern Indiana.

Many cantaloupes have the growing area identified with a sticker on the fruit. If no sticker is present, consumers should inquire about the source. When in doubt, throw it out.

Retailers and food service operators should not sell or serve cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana.

FDA is continuing to work closely with CDC and state partners during this ongoing investigation. CDC will update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available. 

Burch Equipment of NC Expands Cantaloupe Recall and Now Includes Honeydew Melons

Burch Equipment of North Carolina is now recalling all of this season's cantaloupes and honeydew melons due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  On August 5th, they issued a recall for melons, (http://pennstatefoodsafety.blogspot.com/2012/08/nc-company-recalls-cantaloupes-due-to.html), but this expansion was based upon a positive finding of Listeria monocytogens on honeydew melon grown and packed by Burch.

There have been no reported illnesses.  According to the release, product was shipped to at least 18 states:

"The cantaloupes and honeydew melons involved in this expanded recall were sold to distributors between June 23rd and July 27th, in the following states: FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, and VA, VT and WV. The melons may have further been distributed to retail stores, restaurants and food service facilities in other states."

Unfortunately, this scenario is similar to others in that a positive test for Listeria causes an initial recall.  After the regulatory agencies evaluate and test, the recall is expanded due to the fact that Listeria, a pathogen present in plant environments, was not under control, and thus was not limited to that lot initially recalled.


FDA News Release
Recall -- Firm Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm315248.htm?source=govdelivery
FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Burch Equipment LLC Expands Recall to Include Additional Cantaloupe Shipping Dates and to include Honeydew Melons
Contact
Consumer:
910-267-5781
burch@intrstar.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 10, 2012 - Burch Equipment LLC, North Carolina, is expanding its recall to include all of this growing season's cantaloupes and honeydew melons that may remain on the market because they may possibly be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no illnesses reported to date.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. The incubation period (the length of time between consuming a product and becoming ill) for Listeria monocytogenes can be 1 to 3 weeks, but may be in the range of 3 to 70 days.

The whole cantaloupes are identified by a red label reading Burch Farms referencing PLU # 4319. All cantaloupes involved in the recall were grown by Burch Farms, however some of the cantaloupes may have been identified with a "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." sticker referencing PLU #4319 (note: Cottle Strawberry, Inc. did not grow or process the cantaloupe involved in this recall). Cantaloupes from Burch Farms were shipped in both corrugated boxes (9 cantaloupe per case) and in bulk bins.

Honeydew melons involved in this recall expansion do not bear any identifying stickers and were packed in cartons labeled melons.

Consumers who may have purchased these honeydew melons should contact the store where they purchased their melons, for information about whether those melons are part of this recall.

The cantaloupes and honeydew melons involved in this expanded recall were sold to distributors between June 23rd and July 27th, in the following states: FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, and VA, VT and WV. The melons may have further been distributed to retail stores, restaurants and food service facilities in other states."

Burch Equipment LLC is requesting any consumer that may have one of these cantaloupes or honeydews to discard the product.

There have been no illnesses reported to date. FDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are working with Burch Equipment LLC following a random sample of a cantaloupe testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall expansion is based on FDA's finding of Listeria monocytogenes on a honeydew melon grown and packed by Burch..



Burch Farms lacked audits, traceability on recalled fruit
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Burch-Farms-lacked-audits-traceability-on-recalled-fruit-166458376.html
08/16/2012 3:48:34 PM
Coral Beach
Listeria contamination has been confirmed at the Burch Farms melon packing facility in Faison, N.C., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

In an update posted on its website late Aug. 13, FDA officials said the listeria finding spurred Burch to expand its recall to include all cantaloupe and honeydew melons shipped this season. No illnesses have been reported in relation to the recalled melons.

“This recall expansion is based on the FDA’s finding of Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) on a honeydew melon grown and packed by Burch Farms. The recall expansion is also a result of the agency’s finding of L. mono in the environment of the firm’s packing facility,” according to the notice.

Company spokeswoman Teresa Burch said it has not had its cantaloupe operation audited by a third party for food safety practices, and although the company has traceability programs for other items, there is none in place for its melons.

Burch Equipment LLC, doing business as Burch Farms, originally recalled about 5,200 cantaloupes July 28 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program found listeria on one melon at retail during a random sampling.

The grower expanded the recall to include 188,900 cantaloupes Aug. 3 and corrected the variety from athena to caribbean golds. That expansion came after the FDA revealed it had found “unsanitary conditions” at the Burch packing shed.

Owner Jimmy Burch Sr. said Aug. 14 that investigators had just left his farm that morning.
“I asked the guy who took the samples and he said he couldn’t tell me anything,” Burch said. “They just said ‘you’ll be getting results in a few days’ and left.”
Burch said he uses the sanitizer SaniDate in his packing facility’s water. According to the Burch Farms website, the operations are audited by PrimusLabs.

PrimusLabs in-house counsel Ryan Fothergill confirmed that the company has audited the leafy greens processing and field operations at Burch Farms but not the cantaloupe operation. Fothergill said Primus records show its staff was last at the Burch operation in March.

Burch said he planted only about 10 acres of honeydews for this season. The entire crop went to wholesalers. He said his farm has not had food safety issues in the past.
“We shipped 3,000 loads of produce last year with no problems,” Burch said.
According to Burch and the FDA, the recalled honeydews do not have any identifying stickers. They were packed in cartons labeled “melons.”

In its latest recall notice the company reminded consumers that the listeria incubation period “can be one to three weeks, but may be in the range of three to 70 days.”

Complete distribution details on the melons are not available, according to the FDA.
The Burch cantaloupes and honeydew melons were sold to distributors from June 23 to July 27, in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia, the Aug. 10 recall states.
“The melons may have further been distributed to retail stores, restaurants and food service facilities in other states,” according to the recall.

 

NC Company Recalls Cantaloupes Due to Listeria

Burch Equipment of North Carolina is recalling approximate 189,000 cantaloupes after a product tested positive for Listeria and a then follow-up inspection indicated sanitary issues at the packing facility. There have been no reported illnesses.  Product has been shipped to over 10 different states.

Interesting was that the tests were preformed by the USDA Microbiological Data Program, a program that was on the government chopping block just a few weeks ago. One may figure that this would help their future survival, and be a warning to other produce packers that a program fighting for survival may be working a bit harder to find contaminated product and nab few big headlines.

One would have figured that after the Jenson Cantaloupe Listeria issue, anyone packing cantaloupe would have paid close attention to the issues and then went to some great extremes to put in Listeria control measures in place. But clearly there are some who are not reading the paper and seeing the implications..implications not only for the company, but for the lareger industry. And really, this needs to extend to those packing any type of produce item that has the potential to support Listeria.

FDA Recall -- Firm Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm314213.htm

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.
Burch Equipment LLC Corrects Cantaloupe Variety Subject to Recall
Contact:
Consumer:
910-267-5781burch@intrstar.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 3, 2012 - Burch Equipment LLC, North Carolina, is correcting the variety of cantaloupe involved in recalls initiated on July 28 and August 2, 2012. Previous announcements incorrectly identified the cantaloupes as being the Athena variety. The cantaloupes affected by the recall are the Caribbean Gold variety.

Athena cantaloupes are not subject to the recall.

Today’s announcement is not an expansion of the recall; no additional products are being recalled at this time.

The firm voluntarily recalled 580 cases of cantaloupes on July 28, and voluntarily recalled an additional 13,888 cases of cantaloupes (9 cantaloupes per case) and 581 bins of cantaloupes (110 cantaloupes per bin) on August 2, due to the potential for being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Melons affected by this recall total 188,902.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The whole Caribbean Gold variety cantaloupes were shipped between July 15th and July 27th and distributed in FL, GA, IL, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC and VA. The whole cantaloupes are identified by a red label reading Burch Farms referencing PLU # 4319. All cantaloupes involved in the recall were grown by Burch Farms, however some of the cantaloupes may have been identified with a "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." sticker referencing PLU #4319. Cottle Farms is not involved in this recall. Cantaloupes from Burch Farms were shipped in both corrugated boxes (9 cantaloupe per case) and in bulk bins.

Burch Equipment LLC is requesting any consumer that may have one of these cantaloupes to discard the product.

There have been no illnesses reported to date. FDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are working with Burch Equipment LLC following a random sample of a Caribbean Gold variety cantaloupe testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recall expansion was based on unsanitary conditions found at the cantaloupe packing shed during FDA’s ongoing inspection that may allow for contamination of cantaloupes with Listeria monocytogenes.

Questions can be directed to Burch Equipment LLC at 910-267-5781 Monday through Friday, (9:00am to 4:00pm) or email burch@intrstar.net
FDA finds unsanitary conditions at Burch Farms packing shed
The Packer 08/02/2012 4:55:00 PM
Coral Beach http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-enewsletter/Week_In_Review/164806206.html

A recall of about 5,200 Athena cantaloupes in two states ballooned to more than 188,900 cantaloupes distributed in 10 states after inspectors found “unsanitary conditions” at Burch Equipment LLC’s cantaloupe packing facility.

The Faison, N.C., grower, which operates under the name Burch Farms, initially recalled 580 cases of cantaloupes July 28. A positive result for listeria from a random sampling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program sparked the recall.

The voluntary recall expanded Aug. 2 to include 13,888 cases and 581 bulk bins of the Athena melons. No illnesses had been reported, according to the Aug. 2 recall notice. The cases each hold nine melons and the bins each have 110 cantaloupes.

“The recall expansion is based on unsanitary conditions found at the cantaloupe packing shed during FDA’s ongoing inspection that may allow for contamination of cantaloupes with listeria monocytogenes,” the Aug. 2 notice states.

Changing Times for Risk Management in the Food Supply Chain

How much do you know and trust your food supply chain? David Acheson’s fine opinion piece (below) discusses the impact of the lawsuit against Jensen Farms in the cantaloupe related listeria outbreak and the need for managing risk in an establishment’s food supply chain. The cantaloupe related lawsuit is posed to go beyond Jensen Farms and pursue those who handled or sold the contaminated produce as well as the company that inspected the processing facility. Is this the next development in requirements for the food industry?

A few comments on a few of the impactful points he makes:

The need for tighter control of suppliers, going beyond the third party audit, especially for high risk food products. Companies have become too reliant on third party audits to evaluate suppliers. As those who may be familiar with this process know, the value of that audit all comes down to the inspector’s ability to identify critical issues within a company’s food safety system. As past recalls have shown, there are knowledgeable auditors and those that are not so. And then there has been the issues with the supplier paying for the audit, that potential trade-off between the achieving a good score and providing an accurate assessment. A third party audit is just a part of the food safety system, but not the only component. And like any food safety program, it must be managed.

The potential negative impact on small suppliers. Many retailers and foodservice companies rely on small companies to create and manufacturer private label products. There is also a movement to use local farmers to supply produce. If food companies must take a higher level of responsibility for everyone that is producing, processing, and delivering products, there can be a trend for companies to either integrate operations or for them to use few suppliers that they can better manage. This consolidation would potentially result in the use of a few larger establishments that can provide all companies needs instead of using a patchwork of smaller suppliers.

We have come to a confluence of somewhat opposing trends – the desire of consumers to have fresher foods that require less preparation and are available year round (w/ the subsequent increase in the amount of imported foods), the movement towards local foods (and smaller firms that may or may not have the required level of food safety systems in place), an ever improving foodborne-disease-detection system, and a lawsuit-driven punishment system that appears ready to go beyond the responsible party and collect retribution from the linked food chain. Is it possible to develop trust through validation and verification of the supply chain?


Today: Walmart, Kroger, Primus. Tomorrow: You?by David Acheson on June 7, 2012 in Food Safety
http://leavittpartnersblog.com/2012/06/today-walmart-kroger-primus-tomorrow-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=today-walmart-kroger-primus-tomorrow-you

Last week, Jensen Farms, the grower of the cantaloupe implicated in the Listeria outbreak of 2011, filed for bankruptcy. Prominently listed in the filing were lawsuits associated with the outbreak, from which 146 people were sickened and 36 died. According to the Denver Post, Jensen’s attorney said the filing should free up millions of dollars in insurance and other funds.

Foodborne illness attorney Bill Marler has filed at least 11 lawsuits and is representing almost 40 families or persons said to have been sickened or killed because of the contaminated cantaloupe. According to an article in Marler-published Food Safety News, the bankruptcy filing means that his clients “can move on to file lawsuits against companies further down the supply chain: Frontera Produce, the cantaloupe distributor; retailers such as Walmart and Kroger; and Primus Labs, the third-party auditor whose subcontractor, Bio-Food Safety, gave Jensen Farms facilities a ‘superior’ inspection rating just six days before the outbreak began.”

“Bankruptcy of Jensen Farms was a necessary prerequisite to allowing families of those who died and those who were injured to seek compensation against Frontera, Primus, suppliers and retailers,” Marler said.

If Mr. Marler is successful in bringing and winning these cases, it is telling us that someone as distant from the farm as the retailer is highly vulnerable to being sued if a farmer’s product makes someone sick and that farm then declares bankruptcy. If you sell adulterated food – or have some role in handling, distributing, or maybe even transporting anywhere along the food chain of that adulterated food, you would be liable to some extent – regardless of the cause or origination of the contamination.

What does this mean to you and the industry?

We are back to that old issue of controlling risk in the supply chain. It is becoming increasingly important that you spend time assessing and addressing risk across your product line supply chains. As we’ve seen in recent outbreaks, it is not enough to focus on historical incidents – cantaloupe was not known to carry Listeria; raw egg has long been a factor in Salmonella outbreaks, but it was likely the cookie dough flour that caused that 2011E.coli O157:H7 outbreak.

Risk assessment is not only critical for consumer and brand protection, it is a key aspect of the preventive provisions of FSMA. In fact, the pending rule, Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (Section 103) focuses directly on this area. As we stated in a previous newsletter, preventive controls should be tied to preventing foodborne illness, not just decreasing product contamination.

The vulnerability of not knowing and validating your entire supply chain is becoming more evident. One forward, one back may still be law for product tracking, but back to the farm is fast becoming the legal definition of responsibility. And without continuing the barrage against third-party auditors too heavily, it is a responsibility that processors and retailers are becoming leery of outsourcing, especially for high-risk products. And should these companies decide to conduct all their own supplier assessments and audits because they no longer trust outsourced audits, it could force food-industry consolidation and will fly in the face of robust programs like GFSI. I would like to bet that a Kroger or a Walmart would rather conduct 50 audits of large farms than be forced to audit 500 small farms. It is a potential that does not bode well for small suppliers, and could literally cut them out of the loop for many retailers.

In addition, whether or not such potential would come to fruition, supply chain management is specifically listed as an area for which risk-based preventive controls are required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). As noted in a previous newsletter on FSMA key provisions, as part of its food safety plan, a facility may be required to document sanitation procedures, a recall plan, a food allergen control program, supplier verification activities, and environmental sampling testing.

Revisiting Third Party Food Safety Audits

Once again third party audits take heat for an outbreak, in this case, the Listeria outbreak in Jenson Farms Cantaloupes.. In the USA Today, two viewpoints are presented. Both present valid points, but there is more that can be said. Third party food safety audits provide a snapshot evaluation of the food safety system of an organization and give an assessment of whether that facility is following that food safety system. One important limitation is that audits, as currently completed, are not as good at determining the validity of that system, in other words, how well that system is actually working to make safe food. An astute auditor can see signs that the plan is valid through results of pathogen testing, through the process parameters that are set up, but there are factors that limit this.

•  Auditors often cover a broad range of facilities and process types (even within the same commodity) and so it is difficult to have an in depth understanding of every process in every facility an auditor visits. They will not have the vast knowledge of a given pathogen as compared to a PhD who has studied that pathogen for years.
• Audits are often one day in duration, so there is little time to get into the nuts and bolts of the process. Audits will look at the broad systems that are in place and make sure they are being followed (such as GMP’s, supplier control, pest control, HACCP), but to look at the validity of a process can take days, especially when there is the lack of support documentation such as pathogen testing.
•  In most cases, auditors are not conducting microbiological analysis of the environment or of the finished product. They may look at results that are on file, but they themselves are not swabbing surfaces or pulling product from the end of the line and sending to a qualified laboratory. As was seen in the PCA case, a company may only show select results from a less reputable laboratory. So to what degree can an auditor, in a day or so, evaluate the laboratory being used, the methods that laboratory is using, and the sampling scheme used by the plant?
•  Auditors will count, in part, that the facility actually knows what it is doing. If a facility has been processing cantaloupes for years, it is easy to make the assumption they must have some clue of what they are doing. They can question why a change was made, in this case the change in process, but to make a call on the safety of that change is more difficult.
•  Companies being audited do want to pass the audit. Their business depends on it. When they hire an auditor, it is less likely they will put themselves in a position to fail….and that may mean hiring someone they know who will not put them through the ringer. Indeed, this a conflict of interest. But this practice of having the supplier pay for their own audit was started years ago by the purchasing companies requiring the audits. To get out of paying for audits of every supplier, they had the idea to make the supplier pay for the audit. Sure, the customer company provides a list of audit firms or auditors from which the supplier can choose, but still, the supplier still hires that person.

  

Because of these limitations associated with third party audits, they are not a guarantee of product safety. Rather, they are just a part of the entire food safety system that a company uses to ensure safe food. If a company uses the fact that they passed an audit as sole reason for why they believe their food is safe, then that company probably does not have true food safety systems in place. The goal of the audit for the food company is to assess their systems and provide feedback on where improvement is needed. Each aspect of the audit is there for a reason, so food companies need to embrace the intent of the requirement, not just to throw something in place to pass the audit.

  

While there has been a ratcheting up of requirements through GFSI (SQF and BRC) on both what is required in audits and what is required for someone to be a qualified auditor, some of these issues still exist. Even with government based inspection, there are similar shortcomings. Audits are an important part of our food safety system, whether internal, second party, third party , or government, but the responsibility for food safety ultimately falls on the company producing the food. Food companies must use these audits as guideposts for continual improvement. Employees, managers, and just as importantly, executive management must thoroughly understand their process and product. They must challenge themselves, with the help of auditors, to ensure their food safety system has addressed all possible food safety hazards.

  

by Martin Bucknavage 12/1/12

CDC lists Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks for 2011

CDC has updated their Multistate Foodborne Outbreak listing for 2011 (http://www.cdc.gov/outbreaknet/outbreaks.html). This is a nice reference page for reviewing major food outbreaks that have occurred over the past 6 years. (An outbreak, as defined by CDC is “When two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink”)

 A few things to note:

• This does not include recalled products – products recalled due to only the presence of pathogens (pathogens were detected in the product, but there were no illnesses reported). There have been many recalls that have occurred due to positive analysis for a pathogen, especially now with the Reportable Registry (http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/foodsafetyprograms/rfr/default.htm). And so it follows, it does not include recalls for allergens – the major cause for companies to conduct recalls.
• This list does not include single state outbreaks – so this list is manly large companies that produce products. This does not mean that smaller establishments do not have issues.
• A few items were actually not food, but rather pets (frogs and chicks/ducklings in 2011, and water frogs and frozen rodents, which are used to feed slithering pets, in 2010). One item was dog food, which we will count as food – you dog food eaters know who you are.
• There appears to be an increase in the number of entries each year on this listing. I don’t suspect things are getting worse, but rather detection and reporting are getting better.
• Of the 41 entries over the 6 year period where a cause can be found (dropping the pet related entries and the laboratory entry), fresh ground meat had 6 entries, alfalfa sprouts had 5, leafy greens had 5, and cantaloupe had 3.
• Salmonella related outbreaks accounted for roughly 2/3 of the entries. This is due to the wide prevalence of Salmonella in the enviornment.
• FDA regulated product entries accounted for 25 entries, USDA for 11, and I suspect that two of the outbreaks were from facilities that had both USDA and FDA oversight.
• Roughly 27 are what one would consider ready to eat (no required consumer cooking step). 14 entries were products would be considered products that required cooking, that if done sufficiently by the consumer, would have prevented illness (reasons why vary - cookie dough traditionally eaten raw, pot pies – poor cooking instructions, raw meat – no thermometer use).
• As a consumer, I avoid alfalfa sprouts, use a thermometer to cook my ground meat, really wash my cantaloupes, pray my chopped lettuce was not harvested from a farm located next to a cow barn, cook my cookie dough to have crunchy cookies, and refuse to buy my kids turtles, frogs, and snakes (that have to fed frozen rodents.) I have also ceased from eating dog food.

 Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks

 http://www.cdc.gov/outbreaknet/outbreaks.html

When two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink, the event is called a foodborne outbreak. Public health officials investigate outbreaks to control them, so more people do not get sick in the outbreak, and to learn how to prevent similar outbreaks from happening in the future.

CDC and partners ensure rapid and coordinated surveillance, detection, and response to multistate foodborne outbreaks.

Outbreaks by Year

 2011

 · Ground Beef - Salmonella Typhimurium

 · Romaine Lettuce - Escherichia coli O157:H7

 · Kosher Broiled Chicken Livers - Salmonella Heidelberg

 · Turkish Pine Nuts - Salmonella Enteritidis

 · Jensen Farms Cantaloupes - Listeria monocytogenes

 · Ground Turkey - Salmonella Heidelberg

 · Whole, Fresh Imported Papayas - Salmonella Agona

 · African Dwarf Frogs - Salmonella Typhimurium

 · Alfalfa and Spicy Sprouts – Salmonella Enteritidis

 · Travel to Germany - Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O104

 · Chicks and Ducklings - Salmonella Altona and Salmonella Johannesburg

 · Microbiology Laboratories - Salmonella Typhimurium

 · Turkey Burgers - Salmonella Hadar

 · Lebanon Bologna - Escherichia coli O157:H7

 · Del Monte Cantaloupe - Salmonella Panama

 · Hazelnuts - Escherichia coli O157:H7

Regrouping after Listeria on Cantaloupe

One bad cantaloupe [farmer] can spoil the whole bunch….in the LA Times article (below), we see another example of negative impact on an entire industry caused by a producer using less-than-good practices. Interestingly stated, “…California shipped more cantaloupe in a day than Colorado[where the incident occurred] in their whole season. Millions and millions of cantaloupe, healthy and fine."  Now these California producers are not planting as much while trying to spin the story as best they can.

In this digital news age where any tragedy is reported instantly, and then pounded on for days, while often providing little or no information to the specifics, we can’t expect consumers to act much differently.  Consumers want to avoid risk, and if that means forgoing an entire commodity item, then so be it.  There are other, perceivably safer alternatives in the marketplace for consumers to choose.

The point that is hard to understand is how do producers or processors not choose to follow best practices.  Do they know what best practices are for their industry?  Do they truly understand the risks associated with their product and process?

Because of this gap in what is done and what should be done by a some less-than-good companies, and this is probably a small group, government steps in with regulations such as those to be enacted by the new Food Safety Modernization Act legislation.  And still, many companies and industry groups fight against new legislation or having to comply with the proposed regulation.  Granted, some components of the regulation may be initially overkill or not well thought out, but this is where the comment period provides a chance for those with issues to voice their objections.  And the better industry groups work with the agencies to iron out the rough spots within the proposed regulation.

In the news, we hear of companies who decide to get out of the business rather than comply with new regulations.  Some see this loss of a local employer at tragic.  Not me.  If companies are not willing to keep up, if they are not willing to continually update themselves and their employees on the science and technology associated with making safe food, then it is best for the industry that they leave it to those who are.  Certainly, there is a cost to continual improvement, but resources are available through industry groups, government agencies, and academic institutions (including Extension).  It’s not “get big or get out”, it’s “get smart or get out”.

California cantaloupe farms regroup after listeria outbreak

California's Central Valley is 1,300 miles from the Colorado farm linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. But that hasn't registered with the public. Cantaloupe growers hope to change that.

By Diana Marcum, Los Angeles Times
January 5, 2012, 3:53 p.m
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cantaloupe-crop-20120106,0,6658258.story?page=1&utm_medium=feed&track=rss&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20latimes%2Fbusiness%20%28L.A.%20Times%20-%20Business%29&utm_source=feedburner

Auditing and the Food Safety System - Post Listeria-in-Cantaloupe

In the post-analysis of the Listeria outbreak related to cantaloupes, many have questioned how an auditor could have given passing scores to a facility responsible for so many illnesses, especially in light of the FDA audit of that facility during the outbreak investigation.   Face it, when an issue occurs in a facility, those auditors are going to find a lot of issues.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19225591

The recent outbreak of Listeria from cantaloupes should become one of those significant events with regard to food safety in the United States.  While this was the first for this pathogen in the produce related item, it certainly was not an issue that defied logic.   In the FDA investigation report, there appears to be a reasonable explanation behind the contamination scenario – product produced in an environment that allowed for the growth of listeria, a system that did not prevent contamination of the food item, and conditions that allowed it to grow on the product.   But its significance was that it is yet another tragedy that demonstrates the problems in our food chain.

As we have seen in other outbreaks, the companies that produced the food had recently passed a food safety audit.  They not only passed it, but passed with high scores.  Cleary, this is an issue.  However, is it right to put a beat-down on this auditor, and put all responsibility on them?

Clearly, it is the responsibility of the company management to ensure the safety of the product.  Companies should know their process better than anyone.  How can you expect an outside auditor, who is unlikely to know everything about every process they encounter, to hold full burden on passing judgment for the safety of a process during a one day audit? 

The problem is that some company decision makers do not know their own processes as well as they should, and often time, they are not willing to spend the time or money to do so.

·        Training – Are people trained in HACCP?  Do they understand the true risks associated with the process and the product?  Do these companies have people on staff trained in food science and technology, or if not, are they willing to hire a consultant with the proper training and experience to perform a real risk assessment? 

·        Verification testing – Do companies do ample testing to ensure the products they make are safe?  Are they testing their equipment to make sure that it is operating as it should?  Are they testing their environment for the presence for hazards that can be associated with the product or process?

·        Validation – Do companies properly validate their processes when they put them in place or make changes?  Do they have scientifically based research to support what they are doing?  Has in-plant testing been done when they commission the process?

Third-party audits are part of the food safety system, but they are by no means the entire system, especially when it comes to verification of food safety of the process.  Currently, third-party audits should provide a snapshot of how well a company is meeting the auditing standard, and hopefully will be able to catch glaring food safety issues.    Granted, with additional training, they will be better able to identify if validation documentation is present for the process and if it appears to make sense, but until these companies are willing to make the effort to truly understanding their process, there will be those companies who experience the ‘unexpected food contamination issue’.

So it is easy to pile-on the food safety auditor or even a government inspector after the fact.  Perhaps we can give them some extra training so they can identify issue better, or have them paid by someone besides the company they are auditing.  But it is important to remember that the company who makes the product is responsible for the safety.  And until that message is received by owners and company presidents who make final decisions for the products and processes, we will continue to face these same issues regardless of who pays for the audit.

Update on Listeria contamination of cantaloupes

There are currently 72 illnesses and 13 deaths reported to be linked to the Listeria contamination of Jensen Farms Cantaloupes.  This product has been shipped to at least 22 states.
·        Scientists are still searching to determine how the Cantaloupes became contaminated.
·        Because of the complexity of the supply chain, that is selling and reselling of produce, government officials found the designated cantaloupes in more states than previously reported.
·        In addition to concerns on the cantaloupes themselves, consumers are also advised to clean and disinfect refrigerators and other food contact surfaces.   Being that Listeria can grow at refrigeration temperatures, contaminated melons can lead to Listeria contamination of other foods stored in the refrigerator or other surfaces that contacted the melons.
·        Listeria is particularly harmful to high risk populations (elderly, young, and pregnant women).  It infects white blood cells and leads to septicemia (blood infection), meningitis, and abortion.  Because of the high mortality rate, it is important for consumers to take appropriate precautions.
·        Incubation times can range from 1 to 3 weeks or longer, so there is the potential for additional illnesses.  Cantaloupes have a short shelf-life, approximately two weeks.

Consumer Safety Information on the Recalled Whole Cantaloupes by Jensen Farms

FDA Release Updated September 28, 2011

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm272372.htm#investigation

---

FDA and its state partners are conducting checks at retail stores, wholesalers and distributors to make sure they have received notification about the Jensen Farms’ whole cantaloupe recall and that they have taken appropriate action to notify their customers and remove the recalled whole cantaloupes from the shelves.

Because some of the wholesalers and distributors may have further distributed the recalled cantaloupes to food processers, it is possible that additional products that contain cantaloupe from Jensen Farms could be recalled. There is no indication of foreign distribution at this time. Should FDA discover any information that contaminated cantaloupe is still in the marketplace, the Agency will work with the necessary parties to facilitate voluntary recalls of the product and take the necessary steps to protect the safety of the public’s health.

Consumer Safety Information

Listeria can grow at refrigerator temperatures, about 40^◦ Fahrenheit (4^◦ Celsius). The longer ready-to-eat refrigerated foods are stored in the refrigerator, the more opportunity Listeria has to grow.

It is very important that consumers clean their refrigerators and other food preparation surfaces. Consumers should follow these simple steps:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.
• Wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards and countertops; then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used.
• Wipe up spills in the refrigerator immediately and clean the refrigerator regularly.
• Always wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitization process.

The FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled cantaloupes and to throw them away. Do not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the cantaloupe as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.

Listeriosis is rare but can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include older adults, people with compromised immune systems and unborn babies and newborns. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and serious illness or death in newborn babies, though the mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill. A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches. Persons who think they might have become ill should consult their doctor.

Jensen Farms Recall

Jensen Farms voluntarily recalled¹ its whole cantaloupes on Sept. 14 in response to the multi-state outbreak of listeriosis. Cantaloupes from other farms have not been linked to this outbreak.

The recalled cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011 to the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. There is no indication of foreign distribution at this time.

For more information on the epidemiologic investigation, please refer to CDC’s Investigation on the Multi-State Listeriosis Outbreak².

FDA’s Investigation

The FDA is conducting a root-cause investigation, which includes an environmental assessment, into the multi-state outbreak of listeriosis linked to the recalled whole cantaloupes by Jensen Farms. The FDA is working with its partners, including the State of Colorado, to determine how these recalled whole cantaloupes became contaminated with Listeria.

These types of investigations, in most cases, lead to preventive practices. When the FDA has new information in its investigation, the Agency will share its findings with consumers, industry and other federal, state and local health and regulatory agencies.

Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado

CDC Release

http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/index.html

Today's Highlights, September 27, 2011

·        As of 11am EDT on September 26, 2011, a total of 72 persons infected with the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported to CDC from 18 states. All illnesses started on or after July 31, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Colorado (15), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Kansas (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (10), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (8), Texas (14), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1).

·        Thirteen deaths have been reported: 2 in Colorado, 1 in Kansas, 1 in Maryland, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 4 in New Mexico, 1 in Oklahoma, and 2 in Texas.

·        Collaborative investigations by local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate the source of the outbreak is whole cantaloupe grown at Jensen Farms’ production fields in Granada, Colorado.

·        On September 14, 2011, FDA issued a press release to announce that Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes after being linked to a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.

·        CDC recommends that persons at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, do not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms.

·        Other consumers who want to reduce their risk of Listeria infection should not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms.

·        Even if some of the cantaloupe has been eaten without becoming ill, dispose of the rest of the cantaloupe immediately. Listeria bacteria can grow in the cantaloupe at room and refrigerator temperatures.

·        Cantaloupes that are known to NOT have come from Jensen Farms are safe to eat. If consumers are uncertain about the source of a cantaloupe for purchase, they should ask the grocery store. A cantaloupe purchased from an unknown source should be discarded: "when in doubt, throw it out."

·        Go to September 27, 2011 for a full report.

·        More information about listeriosis and recommendations to reduce the risk of getting listeriosis from food are available at CDC’s Listeriosis webpage.

·        For more information on food outbreaks, please visit CDC’s Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks page.

.

Deadly Cantaloupes Have Colorado Scientists Searching for Clues

September 29, 2011, 12:23 AM EDT

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-29/deadly-cantaloupes-have-colorado-scientists-searching-for-clues.html

Everything (almost) you might want to know about the listeria outbreak

Comments 0

September 28, 2011 4:42 PM

The Gazette

http://www.gazette.com/articles/listeria-125833-call-outbreak.html

Listeria and Cantaloupes

This is the first case of Listeria that has been reported to be related to Cantaloupes.   Cantaloupes have been related to other foodborne illness outbreaks, with Salmonella most often being the agent.  Much of this is due to the fact that cantaloupes are grown on the soil surface and they have a rough exterior surface that can retain organisms such as Salmonella.  The interesting thing about this case is that unlike an infection due to Salmonella, the infectious dose of Listeria is higher.  This would seem to indicate that either there was a high level of listeria on the product to start, or the cantaloupe was held at room temperature for a long time in order for this bacterium to grow.  Makes one question the transport vehicle or the use of manure as fertilizer.

Cantaloupes should be washed before slices by scrubbing the exterior surface with a brush under clean running water.  After cutting with a clean knife, it is important to store the cantaloupe at refrigeration temperatures.

To date, there have been at least 15 cases in CO, TX, NE, and OK.

FDA STATEMENT

For Immediate Release: September 13, 2011
Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 202-510-4177, siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 1-888-INFO-FDA

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm271634.htm

FDA investigates multistate outbreak of listeriosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health agencies to investigate a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis.

At least 15 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported in Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

State and local public health officials have interviewed most of the patients and discovered that the majority of them consumed whole cantaloupes, most likely marketed from the Rocky Ford growing region of Colorado.

FDA investigators along with state health officials are working quickly to determine where in the supply chain the contamination most likely occurred and where potentially contaminated product may have been distributed.

Both FDA and state public health officials have collected product and environmental samples. Laboratory testing is underway.

Listeriosis is a rare and serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria. People who think they might have become ill should consult their doctor.

A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has "invasive" infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract.

Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include older adults, people with compromised immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions (such as cancer). In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and serious illness or death in newborn babies, though the mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill.

As FDA’s investigation continues, the agency will provide updates as warranted.

CDC: Deadly Listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/safety/story/2011-09-13/CDC-Deadly-Listeria-outbreak-linked-to-cantaloupe/50389936/1?csp=34news&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomHealth-TopStories+%28News+-+Health+-+Top+Stories%29

DENVER–Health officials have issued a warning for cantaloupes from a revered melon-producing area of Colorado amid a bacteria outbreak blamed for four deaths in the state and New Mexico, troubling farmers who depend on sales of the fruit.

• The warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came after 15 cases of a strain of Listeria were reported from four states, including 11 from Colorado, two from Texas, and one each from Nebraska and Oklahoma. Suspected cases were being investigated in other states.

The agency said it was the first Listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe in the United States.

Rocky Ford cantaloupes are famous throughout the country, drawing travelers to roadside stands. Piles of the coveted melons are featured on postcards. W.C. Fields reportedly said bald guys have "a head shaped like a Rocky Ford cantaloupe," and Lucile Ball had the melons delivered to her dressing room.

"This is really silly. You can get Listeria any place. I eat those melons every day," said Kent Lusk, a fifth-generation cantaloupe farmer from Rocky Ford.

Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Salazar said it might not be the cantaloupes, but a contaminated truck or other source. He said no recalls have been issued, but several Colorado grocery chains pulled their supplies as a precaution.

Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems.

Colorado health director Chris Urbina said people who are at high risk included people 60 and older, those with weakened immune systems from transplants and people with chronic diseases. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions. Listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Urbina said the department was expecting more test results this week that might help identify the specific source of the cantaloupe sickening people.

Lusk said this year's growing season was almost over and that he doesn't believe the outbreak will have a lasting impact.

"I think there were just a few bad ones," said Adela Licano, a Chamber of Commerce board member who added that about a dozen roadside stands were still open.

"This is a major industry. We hope there is no permanent impact. We're going to get to the bottom of this," Salazar said.

In New Mexico, the fatal cases included a 93-year-old man from Bernalillo County, a 61-year-old woman from Curry County and a 63-year-old man from Bernalillo County. State Environmental Health Bureau inspectors were collecting cantaloupe samples from grocery stores and distributors across New Mexico for laboratory analysis.

Mark Salley, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said the person who died in Colorado was not being identified.

"We extend our sympathy to the families and friends of those who have died from this infection," said Colorado Health Secretary Dr. Catherine Torres. "At this time, based on the preliminary findings in Colorado, we are cautioning people who are at high risk for Listeria infection to avoid eating cantaloupe."

Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Rocky Ford Cantaloupes

http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/091211.html

CDC

September 12, 2011

Introduction

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states, including Colorado, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of listeriosis. Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Investigators are using DNA analysis of Listeria isolated from patients to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. The Listeria bacteria are obtained from diagnostic testing; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is used to determine DNA fingerprint patterns. Investigators are using data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.

A total of 15 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 4 states. All illnesses started on or after August 15, 2011. The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: Colorado (11), Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (2). Listeriosis illnesses in several other states are currently being investigated by state and local health departments to determine if these illnesses are part of this outbreak.

Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after August 15, 2011. Ages range from 38 to 96 years, with a median age of 84 years old. Most ill persons are over 60 years old or have health conditions that weaken the immune system. Seventy-three percent of ill persons are female. All 15 (100%) patients were hospitalized, and one death has been reported.

The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of persons who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after August 26, 2011, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. Please see the description of the steps in a foodborne outbreak investigation for more details.

About 800 cases of Listeria infection are diagnosed each year in the United States, along with 3 or 4 outbreaks of Listeria-associated foodborne illness. The typical foods that cause these outbreaks have been deli meats, hot dogs, and Mexican-style soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Produce is not often identified as a source, but sprouts caused an outbreak in 2009, and celery caused an outbreak in 2010.

Investigation of the Outbreak

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, and are currently available in grocery stores. 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. Product traceback information indicated these cantaloupes were marketed as cantaloupes harvested in the Rocky Ford region.

Laboratory testing by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment identified Listeria monocytogenes bacteria on cantaloupe collected from grocery stores and from an ill person’s home. Product traceback information from Colorado State officials indicated these cantaloupes were 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.

On September 9, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment [PDF - 2 pages] advised persons in Colorado at high risk for severe listeriosis to avoid eating cantaloupes. CDC now advises persons throughout the mainland United States and at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, to not eat cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.

Top of Page

Clinical Features/Signs and Symptoms

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns. Rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.

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, in which the bacteria spread from the intestines to the blood stream or other body sites.

The symptoms 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.

More general information about Listeriosis can be found at the CDC's Listeriosis webpage

Advice to Consumers

Contaminated cantaloupes may still be in grocery stores and in consumers' homes.

·        CDC recommends that persons at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, do not eat cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.

·        Consumers who have cantaloupes in their homes can check the label or inquire at the store where they purchased it to determine if the fruit was marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.

·        Listeriosis primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Persons who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated cantaloupes should consult their doctor immediately.

·        Cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region should be disposed of in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.

Food items other than cantaloupes can also carry Listeria bacteria. People at high risk for listeriosis and those who prepare their meals can take steps to lower the risk.

·        Rinse raw produce, such as fruits and vegetables, thoroughly under running tap water before eating. Dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel before cutting them up.

·        Thoroughly cook raw meat and poultry.

·        Heat hot dogs, deli meats, and cold cuts until they are steaming hot just before serving.

·        Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat fresh soft cheeses that have unpasteurized milk in them, especially Mexican style cheeses like queso fresco.

·        Be sure that your refrigerator is at or below 40 degrees F, and your freezer at or below 0 degrees F by using a refrigerator thermometer.

·        Follow general food safety guidelines for preparing food, such as those at FoodSafety.gov .

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.

More information about Listeriosis and recommendations to reduce risk of getting Listeriosis from food can be found at the CDC's Listeriosis webpage.