You may want to reconsider purchasing that tub of fruit salad from the grocery store when packing your picnic basket this summer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported Thursday of a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak, and pre-sliced melons is said to be the culprit.
Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee, were just added to the 23 states where contaminated pre-cut melons were sold.
The FDA provided a consolidated list of retailers that sold the contaminated fruit in those states and will is subject to being updated if necessary.
Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, Sprouts Farmers Market, Costco and Whole Foods/Amazon, recalled all their pre-cut watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe from store shelves.
The agency urges consumers to discard pre-cut watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe that were purchased from those stores.
Retailers were also warned not to sell products distributed by Caito Foods Distribution, Gordon Food Service or SpartanNash Distribution.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 60 people were infected with the Salmonella Adelaide strain from 5 of the 23 states, and 31 people were hospitalized. There are currently no reports of patients dying.
The fact that pre-cut fruit is available for sale at all was amusing for this Twitter user.
Is this nature's way of telling us to be more environmentally responsible?
Unfortunately, the pre-cut option benefits those who aren't able to cut the fruit themselves.
Maybe there's something to this complaint resulting in the contamination.