The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that a Salmonella Newport outbreak traced to cantaloupe has ended.
The agency had not previously reported the outbreak to the general public.
The outbreak sickened at least 70 people from 25 states. There were likely many more people infected in the outbreak because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella. For each person confirmed there are as many as 29 more who are outbreak patients, according to the CDC.
The Salmonella Newport strain involved in the outbreak was linked to cantaloupe imported from Guatemala by Ayco Farms Inc. of Pompano Beach, FL, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Once Ayco Farms was identified as the common supplier, FDA worked with the firm to determine if there was product available to customers. Although the imported cantaloupe was likely past shelf life and no longer on the market, Ayco Farms initiated a recall to ensure that downstream customers did not further process and extend the shelf life of the implicated cantaloupe.
There does not appear to be any ongoing risk to public health and there is no recommendation for consumers to avoid cantaloupe in general, according to the FDA.
As part of the outbreak investigation, the FDA placed Ayco San Jorge Y Compania Limitada and Agrobassy Y Cia Ltda on import alert 99-35, which subjects the cantaloupes from these firms to automatic detention without physical examination.
No product from these firms will enter U.S. commerce until the companies have demonstrated that they have overcome the violations that resulted in this action. The FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
