Melons recalled due to salmonella outbreak
4 Western Pa. stores remove products
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A recent outbreak of salmonella in pre-cut melon has sickened 60 people across five Midwestern states, the Centers for Disease Control reported, and has led to the recall of products at four Western Pennsylvania grocery stores.
The confirmed cases occurred in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, and include people ranging in age from 1 year to 97 years, the CDC said in its most recent update on June 15. No deaths have been reported.
The outbreak was caused by contaminated pre-cut melons distributed by Caito Foods of Indianapolis, according to the CDC.
In response, the company voluntarily recalled potentially-affected products.
The recall included “fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut mixed fruit containing one of these melons,” according to a press release from Caito.
Though confirmed cases have only arisen in five states, the products in question were distributed to retail stores in 22 states, including four stores in Western Pennsylvania.
One of those stores was JK’s County Market in Mount Pleasant.
“We were notified on Monday and immediately took any remaining product off our shelves,” said owner John “J.K.” Krystyniak.
Mr. Krystyniak said the distributor will reimburse the store for the product that was destroyed and for any returned by customers.
So far, he said, no customer has returned any pre-cut melon products, and the store has not received any questions or complaints from consumers.
D’Onofrio’s Food Center in Hermitage also has not received any questions from consumers, said Devin Ambrose, of the produce department.
“It was only three or four varieties of product that were affected,” he said.
Two locations of Shop ‘n Save, — one in Greensburg and one in Murrysville — also were listed by the Food and Drug Administration as being impacted by the recall. Neither store offered comment on the matter.
Caito Foods could not be reached for immediate comment late Friday afternoon, but a company press release stated, “Caito Foods has ceased producing and distributing these products as the company and FDA continue their investigation.”
This is only the most recent of several salmonella-related recalls during the past few months. In April, according to the CDC, more than 200 million eggs were recalled by Rose Acre Farms in an outbreak which infected 45. In March, contamination of dried coconut sickened 14 people.
The symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to the FDA.
While the bacterium rarely causes fatalities, it may be very hazardous for those with weakened immune systems. The infection is usually treatable with antibiotics.