Nationwide salmonella outbreak caused by pre-cut FRUIT sparks ‘concern’ at CDC – as number of hospitalizations rises to 61

A nationwide deadly food outbreak has left health officials ‘concerned’ after cases and hospitalizations rose again this last week, including in children and the elderly. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the number of salmonella infections linked to cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit continues to increase. 

There have been 117 cases reported in 34 states, including 61 hospitalizations. Minnesota also reported two deaths. The CDC also reported that 14 cases were from long-term care facilities, and seven were in children in daycare. 

The CDC reports there have been 117 cases, 60 hospitalizations, and two deaths in 34 states from a salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe and other cut fruit

The CDC urged people not to eat any recalled cantaloupes or other fruit products and to wash items and surfaces that could have touched the recalled fruit with hot, soapy water (stock)

The CDC said: ‘CDC is concerned about this outbreak because of severe illnesses. Do not eat pre-cut cantaloupes if you don’t know whether Malichita or Rudy brand cantaloupes were used.’

‘This includes cantaloupe chunks and fruit mixes with cantaloupes at restaurants and grocery stores.’ 

The affected produce was sold at retail chains like Kwik Trip, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Aldi. 

All contaminated fruit has been recalled.

The agency urged people not to eat any recalled cantaloupes or other fruit products and to wash items and surfaces that could have touched the recalled fruit with hot, soapy water. 

Customers should go to their doctor if they start experiencing diarrhea that lasts longer than three days, fever, bloody stool or vomiting.

In a warning issued last week, the CDC said it carried out interviews with sick people and analyzed test samples to confirm the patients were sick with the same strain found in fruit.

The agency said that the true number of sick people ‘is likely much higher.’ 

Malichita and Rudy were two of the brands with contaminated produce

Fruit made by the Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac brands were sold in clear square or round plastic containers

Some pre-cut versions have a yellow label with ‘Vinyard,’ and some have a red label with ‘Fresh’

Salmonella bacteria are passed from feces of people or animals, and symptoms of an infection usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure. They typically resolve within another four to seven days without requiring medical intervention.

Some people have no symptoms. However, the illness can sometimes be more severe and lead to hospitalization. 

People with pre-existing medical conditions, weakened immune systems, children under 12 months old, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to serious side effects – or even death.

In rare circumstances, salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and causing more severe illness, such as infections in the arteries, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valve) and arthritis. 

Salmonella infects more than 1.3 million people every year, leading to 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths annually. 

The CDC said the contaminated whole cantaloupes might have a sticker that says ‘Malichita’, ‘4050’, and ‘Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique’.

Some pre-cut versions have a yellow label with ‘Vinyard,’ and some have a red label with ‘Fresh’.

ALDI’s cantaloupe chunks in clamshell packaging and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging were also affected.

Meanwhile, cantaloupe chunks, seasonal blend, melon mixes, and fruit mixes made by the Freshness Guaranteed and RaceTrac brands were sold in clear square or round plastic containers.

The CDC said it will continue to investigate and identify other cantaloupe or cut fruit that could be contaminated.