I’m sorry to report that the cantaloupe recall has now extended to all of North America.

Thanks to the FDA for this report.

Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Honduran Cantaloupes grown by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –Pompano Beach, FL — March 24, 2008 — Central American Produce, Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL announces a voluntary recall of cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an independent third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras. The product was distributed nationwide and Canada. Based on current information, the cantaloupe grown, packed and shipped from Agropecuaria Montelibano appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada.

In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of food-borne Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Individuals who have recently eaten cantaloupe and experienced any of these symptoms should contact their health care professional.

The FDA advises that U.S. grocers, food service operators and produce processors remove from their stock any cantaloupes grown packed and shipped from this company. The FDA is also advises consumers who have recently bought cantaloupes to check with the place of purchase to determine if the fruit came from this specific grower and packer. If so, consumers should throw away the cantaloupes. The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in medium brown cardboard cartons with the brands Mikes Melons or Mayan Pride all showing PRODUCE OF HONDURAS printed on each of the four side panels of the carton. The address of the shipper appears on one end panel of the carton as follows:

GROWN, PACKED AND SHIPPED BY:
AGROPECUARIA MONTELIBANO
SAN LORENZO, VALLE, HONDURAS

There are other firms that are involved in this recall using other labels of the same grower, including Mikes Melons. The FDA is taking this preventive measure while the agency continues to investigate this outbreak in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state partners.