Florida, California, other states, check your cantaloupes. There’s a salmonella recall

David J. Neal
·2 min read
7

Cantaloupes from Mexico shipped to distributors in 10 states — and to stores in even more states — have been recalled in the United States and Canada because they might be contaminated with salmonella.

What cantaloupes are recalled?

According to the recall alert by Sofia Produce, which operates as Trufresh, consumers should look for cantaloupes with the Malichita tag, the number “4050,” possibly in a cardboard box with the Malichita label.

The tag that’ll be found on recalled Malichita cantaloupes with the No. 4050.
The tag that’ll be found on recalled Malichita cantaloupes with the No. 4050.

Distributors should look for cantaloupes from order Nos. 0128556, 0128624, 0128630, 0128632, 0128640, 0128643, 0128644, 0128646, 0128648, 0128651, -0128656, 0128669, 0128680, 0128682, 0128683, 0128700, 0225200, 0225201, 0225206, 0225214, 0225219, 0225222, 0225226, 0225227, 0225228, 0419611, 0419629, 0419630, 0419636, 0419671, 0419688, 0419693, 0419696, 0419697, 0419704, 0419710, 0419718, 0419772, 0516255, 0516268, 0516271, 0516279, 0516301, 0612143, 0612144, 0612148, 0612154, 0612156, 0612158, 0612171, 0612190, 0612191, 0612197, 0612198, 0612209 and 0612225.\

Cantaloupes with the Malichita brand tag.
Cantaloupes with the Malichita brand tag.

Though the melons went to distributors in Florida, California, Texas, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada, they “would have reached consumers through retail produce markets which may be located in states other than those listed above.”

READ MORE: More brands of fruit pouches recalled for possibly leading to lead poisoning

What is salmonella?

Salmonella kills 420 Americans each year, puts 26,500 in the hospital and infects about 1.35 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The worst effects are likely to hit children under 5, adults over 65 and people with damaged immune systems. Most healthy people get stomachaches, diarrhea, vomiting and fever that starts from 12 hours to three days from infection and runs from four to seven days.

What do you do if you have the recalled Malichita cantaloupes?

Retail buyers, return them to the store where you bought them or throw them in the garbage where they can’t be eaten by pets. Distributors quarantine the recalled cantaloupes from the rest of your inventory, toss them and keep records of your purchase and their trashing.

If you have questions on this recall, phone Trufresh’s Rafael Roiz, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern time, at 520-394-7370.