Salmonella Contamination from Cantaloupe Results in 2 Deaths and 141 Illnesses

According to the Huffington Post, cantaloupe grown in Indiana has become infected with Salmonella, leaving 2 dead and infecting nearly 150 others over the course of the last month. The outbreak was declared 4 days ago, but the farm responsible for producing the infected cantaloupe has yet to be announced.

Twenty states across the United States have been affected by this outbreak, but Kentucky bears both deaths and 50 of the illnesses.

Health investigators will refrain from announcing the source of the infected cantaloupe until they are completely confident. According to health officials, the farm that investigators believe is responsible has stopped all shipments of cantaloupe for the remainder of the season.

Watermelons are also being investigated in this region as another potential source of a smaller Salmonella outbreak. Health officials from Indiana and Kentucky are urging consumers to take precaution and throw away any melons purchased recently.

Individuals infected with Salmonella develop fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the infected product, and the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days.

“Most individuals infected with Salmonella recover without treatment; however, young children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems may develop more serve illnesses where hospitalization is required,” states EMSL’s Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences, Jason Dobranic, Ph.D. “ EMSL Analytical’s advanced microbiology laboratories have the ability to test food samples, as well as environmental samples to detect Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens.”

For more information on EMSL’s testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com, or email  info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com