FDA Issues Outbreak Advisories for Stone Fruit, Cantaloupe

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued two multistate outbreak advisories: Listeria monocytogenes linked to peaches, plums and nectarines (stone fruit) and Salmonella Sundsvall in cantaloupes.

STONE FRUIT. Federal and state partners have continued to investigate the stone fruit outbreak as new matching cases have been identified over the past several years, FDA reported. As of Nov. 17, 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from seven states. Samples from sick people were collected from Aug. 22, 2018, to Aug. 16, 2023.

In response to this investigation, HMC Farms has voluntarily recalled peaches, plums and nectarines sold in retail stores from May 1, 2022, through Nov. 15, 2022, and from May 1, 2023, through Nov. 15, 2023. 

CANTALOUPE. Several brands have issued recalls of cantaloupe and products containing cantaloupe. On Nov. 24, Pacific Trellis initiated a recall of whole fresh cantaloupes distributed between Oct. 18-26 in California, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin, and sold in various retail supermarkets. On Nov. 22, Crown Jewels Produce issued a recall of whole fresh cantaloupes, Sofia Produce expanded their recall of fresh whole cantaloupe, and CF Dallas initiated a recall of fresh cut fruit products made from whole cantaloupe subject to the Sofia Produce recall.

 The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with Canadian and U.S. state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Sundsvall infections. As of Nov. 24, CDC reported 99 cases from 32 states, with a latest onset date of Nov. 10.

The FDA recommends that consumers, restaurants and retailers should not eat, sell or serve recalled cantaloupe. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether additional products are linked to illnesses. The FDA will update the advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.