Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sliced Melon from an IN Facility

There are now approximately 60 people who have become infected with Salmonella linked to sliced melon product.  The company, Caito Foods in IN has recalled product which was sold through a number of stores including Kroger, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s.

In fruit slicing operations, fruit must be properly washed and surface sanitized to prevent such issues.  Melons can be a problem because surfaces may be rough, and can be damaged/soft allowing internal contamination.  Melons with a more neutral pH, can support the growth of Salmonella.

CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-expands-salmonella-melon-warning-to-more-than-20-states/
FDA expands Salmonella-melon warning to more than 20 states
June 15, 2018

In OR, Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sliced Melons

Eighteen people have been reported as becoming infected with Salmonella after eating store-bought, pre-but watermelon, canteloupe, and mixes containing those fruits.

Companies producing cut melon products normally have tight controls over this type of RTE operation, including a fruit washing/sanitizing step and then tight sanitary controls to prevent contamination after washing/sanitizing, through slicing and then packaging - good line sanitation and hygienic zoning.  So to have Salmonella contamination, one would guess either the washing/sanitizing was inadequate or there were some lapses in sanitation/hygienic zoning.

Oregon Live
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/12/salmonella_outbreak_in_oregon.html
Salmonella outbreak in Oregon, Washington linked to pre-cut fruit
Updated Dec 1; Posted Dec 1
By Brad Schmidt, bschmidt@oregonian.com
The Oregonian/OregonLive

Outbreaks in the News this week (2/7/12)

There have been some interesting foodborne illness outbreaks in the news this week (Feb 7, 2012).  Here is a quick summary.

Clostridium perfrigens outbreak due to taco meat served at N.D. basketball game.  How it probably happened - the spore-forming organism survived the heat treatment and then grew in the taco meat when that cooked meat was not held at the proper temperature.  Temperature control of cooked food can be an issue  in venues like this.  Unfortunately, people are not willing to question servers when they receive meat products that are not hot.  People preparing and handling food may not have been trained.

http://www.ksfy.com/story/16689309/clostridium-perfringens-cause-of-pierre-outbreak

Watermelon the likely source for Salmonella outbreak – Over 35 people became ill (it occurred in England, so they became unwell) from eating ready-to-eat (pre-sliced) watermelon.  How it probably happened - during the watermelon slicing operation Salmonella was transferred from the outer surface to the interior surface.  This Salmonella could have originated on the raw fruit, and then been spread through the wash water.  If the sliced water melon was not refrigerated, Salmonella could grow on the more pH neutral fruit, making the situation worse.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9056645/One-person-dies-after-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-watermelons.html

Update – Outbreak of Campylobacter from consumption of contaminated raw milk affects 43 people in 4 states.  The dairy has resumed sales. (That raw milk group is a dedicated bunch).

http://www.therecordherald.com/news/x962217783/Raw-milk-sales-resume-at-The-Family-Cow-in-Chambersburg

3 cruise ships disinfected after norovirus outbreak

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/ship-with-stomach-virus-outbreak-sets-sail-from-port-everglades-with-new-passengers/2012/02/06/gIQAc8aztQ_story.html?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop