Cantaloupe Listeria Death Toll Hits 18

At least 18 persons have died from Listeria infections blamed on Jensen Farms cantaloupes.  Although the contaminated cantaloupes should be off store shelves by now, the death and illness toll continues to rise as diagnoses are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The 18 deaths included: 5 in Colorado, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Maryland, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 5 in New Mexico, 1 in Oklahoma, and 2 in Texas.  The 100 confirmed illnesses came from 20 states.

The outbreak came to public attention on Sept. 14, 2011, when the FDA issued a press release to announce that Jensen Farms had issued a voluntary recall of its Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes after being linked to a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.

Although the recalled cantaloupe should be off store shelves, more ill persons may be reported because of the time lag between diagnosis and laboratory confirmation and also because up to two months can elapse between eating contaminated food and developing listeriosis. 

In doubt, throw it out

CDC recommends that consumers not eat Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupe from Jensen Farms. This is especially important for older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.  

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.