Sick with Salmonella?
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Elliot Olsen has regained millions of dollars for people sickened by Salmonella; he has been retained by four clients in the recent Salmonella outbreak from contaminated eggs. If you or a family member became ill in this pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak, please call (612) 337-6126, or complete the following:
Federal regulators have added Iowa to the list of states affected by a pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak.
Iowa was added to the list of states where recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products were sold. Consumers and retailers in Iowa are being advised to avoid eating or selling recalled melon products (the complete list can be found here).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating the multi-state, pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak. Fruit salad mixes containing pre-cut melons are being considered the likely source.
Pre-cut melon Salmonella:
No additional illnesses
A total of 60 people have been sickened and 31 hospitalized, the CDC reported on June 8. No new illnesses were added in this update; none have been reported in Iowa yet.
The CDC shows five Midwestern states have reported illnesses: Illinois (6), Indiana (11), Michigan (32), Missouri (10), and Ohio (1).
In addition to Iowa, the CDC is warning consumers in Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina to avoid pre-cut melon.
The CDC reports that people sickened by pre-cut melon said they ate pre-cut cantaloupe, watermelon or a fruit salad mix that contained melon. Most of the victims purchased the pre-cut melon at Walmart or Kroger outlets, but a number of other retailers are also affected, including Costco, Jay C, Owen’s, Payless, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, and Whole Foods/Amazon.
Federal regulators have added Iowa to the list of states affected by a pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak. Iowa is the ninth state affected by a recall of pre-cut melon products.
Pre-cut melon Salmonella:
Caito Foods recall
The initial statement from the CDC, which was published June 8, reads:
“On June 8, 2018, Caito Foods, LLC recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products containing one of these melons produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“Recalled products were distributed to Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
“Recalled products were sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine if products went to additional stores or states.”
The products recalled by Caito Foods were shipped between April 17 and June 7. All had a “best used by” date of June 16.
Pre-cut melon Salmonella:
Outbreak statistics
The CDC’s statistics on the outbreak show that illnesses began on dates ranging from April 30 to May 28. Other statistics include:
- People who have been sickened by pre-cut melon range in age from less than 1 year old to 97 years old.
- The median age is 67 years old.
- Sixty-five percent of those sickened are female.
Illnesses that occurred after May 20 might not be reported yet because of the amount of time it takes from when a person becomes sick to when the illness is reported. This usually takes two to four weeks, on average.
Pre-cut melon Salmonella:
Info about salmonellosis
Salmonella bacteria produce salmonellosis, which develops anywhere from 12 hours to three days after the consumption of Salmonella-contaminated food. Salmonellosis symptoms can include:
- diarrhea, which can become bloody
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- chills and high fever.
Symptoms can last up to a week. Most victims recover without requiring medical attention, but diarrhea can become so severe that hospitalization is necessary.
About 450 deaths a year
Salmonella are responsible for an average of 1.2 million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. yearly, the CDC reports. Salmonellosis, which affects the intestinal tract, is one of the most common types of food poisoning in the U.S. year in and year out.
Of those approximately 1.2 million annual cases, about 23,000 victims will need to be hospitalized, and 450 victims will die.
People most at risk for complications are children under 5, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems.
Complications of salmonellosis
Complications occur when Salmonella bacteria enter the bloodstream. Those complications can include:
- meningitis: an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
- endocarditis: an infection of the heart’s inner lining usually involving the heart valves.
- osteomyelitis: bone inflammation that usually targets the legs, arms, or spine.
- reactive arthritis (or Reiter’s syndrome): a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in response to Salmonella infection in another part of the body.
