FDA Finds Outbreaks Of Listeria In Colorado Cantaloupes

FDA Finds Outbreaks Of Listeria In Colorado Cantaloupes, as far back as August of 2011.

Though the outbreak seems under control now, The FDA states that this is the worst outbreak of Listeria in produce since 1998.

According to the FDA, outbreak is not over, but new cases are not coming as they once were.

One hundred and twenty-three cases have been reported in 26 states, and twenty five people have died from the tainted cantaloupes.

What Is Listeria

Listeriosis is an infection caused by a gram-positive motile bacterium namedListeria monocytogenes. Like most food poisoning, it produces fever, muscle aches, and in many people, diarrhea. More severe infections can induce headaches, meningitis, convulsions, and finally death.

Most healthy people exposed to the bacteria have minor or no symptoms, but a few folks, especially pregnant females and their fetus, newborns, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system such as Lupus, can have adverse affects from Listeria.

What Caused The Listeria Outbreak

FDA seems to think that unsanitary conditions at a Colorado cantaloupe farm’s packing facility are a possible contributing cause of one of the nation’s outbreaks of listeria contamination in food.

A spokesperson for the Center for Disease Control (CDC), stated that it is too early to declare the outbreak finished, but the number of new cases appeared to be diminishing.

According to Dr. Barbara Mahon of the CDC, “The peak in illnesses appears to have occurred from late August until the middle of September.” She also added that additional monitoring will be needed for at least another two weeks.

Though the EDA was unable to pinpoint the definitive cause of the deadly outbreak, they do link this outbreak of Listeria, to 25 deaths.

Some of the contaminated cantaloupe has been traced back to California based Jensen Farms.

FDA cited several likely causes for the spread of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria at Jensen Farms:
1. Packing equipment that “was not easily cleaned and sanitized.”
2.  The use of washing and drying equipment for cantaloupe packing as well as other raw agricultural commodities.
3. The facility lacked a “pre-cooling step” to remove field heat from the cantaloupes before cold storage, possibly leading to condensation in the cooling process that promoted growth of the listeria bacteria.
4. Poor sanitary practices in the facility.

 

Jensen Farms has 15 days to document steps it has taken to correct the problems.

Jensen farms has notified the FDA, this week and that it agreed to inspection by the agency of its growing, packaging, and cold storage operations before it resumes food harvesting, packaging, or processing.

As well the company has agreed to correct all objectionable observations that were noted during the recent FDA inspection.

In the total of the 123 people in 26 states, that were reported to have been infected by the tainted fruit,  one woman who was pregnant at the time of her illness, had a miscarriage.

According to CDC, Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of its Rocky Ford brand cantaloupes on September 14th, 2011. At this time, it is believed that the tainted cantaloupes should be out of food stores.

WARNING:Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms should be immediately tossed out, even if some of them have been eaten. If you are uncertain about the source of a cantaloupe, ask your supermarket, and if the source remains unknown, toss the fruit.

NOTICE:Refrigerating these infected cantaloupes, will not kill the bacteria, because the listeria can still grow at low temperatures. Do not try to wash off the bacteria…it will not happen.

 

For the full story of “FDA Finds Outbreaks Of Listeria In Colorado Cantaloupes“, go to CNN News.