In the United States a total of 407 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella were reported from 44 states: Alaska (1), Arizona (15), Arkansas (2), California (56), Colorado (11), Connecticut (2), Florida (4), Georgia (8), Illinois (22), Indiana (9), Iowa (12), Kansas 2, Kentucky 10, Maryland 9, Massachusetts 2, Michigan 7, Minnesota 29, Mississippi 1, Missouri (15), Montana (3), Nebraska (7), Nevada (8), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (8), New Mexico (2), New York (14), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (1), Ohio (14), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (8), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (10), South Dakota (2), Tennessee (7), Texas (30), Utah (12), Vermont (1), Virginia (8), Washington (4), West Virginia (3), Wisconsin (29) and Wyoming (1). Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 15, 2023, to December 25, 2023. Of 362 people with information available, 158 (44%) were hospitalized. Six deaths were reported.
In Canada a total, 190 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella Soahanina, Sundsvall, Oranienburg, and Newport illness were linked to this outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (20), Alberta (4), Saskatchewan (1), Ontario (24), Quebec (131), Prince Edward Island (2), New Brunswick (2), Nova Scotia (4) and Newfoundland and Labrador (2). Individuals became sick between mid-October and late December 2023. Sixty-eight (68) individuals were hospitalized, and nine deaths were reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella (Sundsvall and Oranienburg) infections. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed that cantaloupes were contaminated with Salmonella made people sick. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis shows that clinical isolates from the ill people in are genetically related to the ill people in the United States and Canada. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified Sofia Produce, LLC dba TruFresh of Nogales, AZ; Crown Jewels Produce of Fresno, CA; and Pacific Trellis Fruit dba Dulcinea of Fresno, CA as suppliers of the potentially contaminated “Malichita” or “Rudy” brand cantaloupes.
A number of recalls have been initiated. They include whole cantaloupe and a variety of pre-cut products, some with cantaloupe mixed with other fruits.
Recalled whole cantaloupe from the following brands are:
- Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label on the cantaloupe that says “Malichita” or “Rudy,” “4050,” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.”
- Retailers and wholesalers would have received recalled whole melons from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy,” or from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malichita/Z Farms,” or from Pacific Trellis in corrugated cartons with certain lot codes.
Recalled pre-cut cantaloupe and products containing pre-cut cantaloupes made from recalled whole cantaloupes are:
- ALDI cantaloupe, cut cantaloupe, and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging with Best-by dates between Oct. 27 and Oct. 31 and sold in IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, and WI.
- Vinyard cantaloupe chunks and cubes, fruit mixes, melon medleys, and fruit cups containing cantaloupe. Most have a “Vinyard” label, and some have a red label with “Fresh” sold between October 30 and November 10 in Oklahoma stores.
- Freshness Guaranteed (sold at Walmart stores) seasonal blend, melon trio, melon mix, fruit blend, fruit bowl, seasonal fruit tray, fruit mix, and cantaloupe chunks; and RaceTrac fruit medley sold in clear square or round plastic containers. Recalled products were sold at select retail stores in IN, MI, OH, KY, NC, TN, VA, IL, TX, and LA (see recall announcement for lot codes and “best by” dates).
- KwikTrip 6-oz mixed fruit cup, 6-oz cantaloupe cup, and 16-oz fruit tray distributed to Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in WI, MN, IA, MI, IL, and SD.
- Bix Produce 5.75-oz Created Fresh! cantaloupe Grab N’ Go fruit cups, Created Fresh! Grab N’ Go mixed fruit cups, and Jack & Olive mixed fruit cups sold in MN, ND, SD, and WI.
- GHGA pre-cut products containing cantaloupe branded as Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joes, and unbranded products sold at Kroger. Recalled products were distributed to Kroger stores in AL and GA, Sprout’s Farmers Market stores in AL, GA, NC, and SC, and Trader Joe’s stores in AL, FL, GA, SC, and TN (see recall for lot codes and “sell-by” dates).
- Cut Fruit Express Caribou Coffee Fruit Mix CHPG 6.5oz and Cut Fruit Express-brand of 6.5oz, 15oz, 16oz, 32oz packages of Fruit Mix containing cantaloupes. This recall also includes food service packages of cantaloupe chunks and fruit mixes containing cantaloupe.
- TGD Cuts, LLC fresh-cut fruit cup, clamshell and tray products containing cantaloupe.
- Stop & Shop
Truefresh Cantaloupe that was purchased between Oct. 23 – Nov. 11, 2023 in CT, NJ, and NY.
Salmonella: Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $850 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants. The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart.
If you or a family member became ill with a Salmonella infection, including Reactive Arthritis or Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Salmonella attorneys for a free case evaluation.