The Chamberlain Farms cantaloupe recall was issued after the farm’s cantaloupe tested positive for the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that sickened over 170 people in 21 states. Two people have died. Our attorneys are helping Salmonella victims.
Several grocery stores have pulled cantaloupe off of their shelves, including Kroger, Marsh, Meijer, Schneiders, Schnucks and WalMart. Let us know if you bought contaminated cantaloupe from one of these stores or another store. We are representing Salmonella food poisoning victims nationwide.
Why is Chamberlain Farms cantaloupe being recalled?
The FDA is announcing a recall of cantaloupe by Chamberlain Farms, of Owensville, Indiana, because of possible contamination with Salmonella Typhimurium associated with a multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a total of 178 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium from 21 states. Nationwide, 62 persons have been hospitalized.
The investigation into this outbreak continues, in order to determine whether there are other possible sources of the outbreak.
What are the symptoms of salmonellosis?
Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness, called salmonellosis, usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream (sepsis), and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Fred has handled Salmonella wrongful death cases, and in most of those cases, the Salmonella victim developed sepsis.
In addition to sepsis (also called septicemia), salmonellosis can cause serious illness, including dehydration, Salmonella colitis, reactive arthritis.
Who is at risk for salmonellosis?
Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis. The rate of diagnosed infections in children less than five years old is higher than the rate in all other persons. Young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections. It is estimated that approximately 400 persons die each year with acute salmonellosis.
Although people in these groups are most at risk, we have had clients who were not in one of the groups above. This is a serious illness that is preventable.
Where was the cantaloupe distributed?
Records available currently indicate that the cantaloupe was initially shipped to Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin and then shipped to other states. In most cases, distributors of the cantaloupe can also be sued by victims and their families.
What is being done about the outbreak?
After officials from the FDA and the state of Indiana briefed Chamberlain Farms on the current status of the investigation, Chamberlain Farms made the decision to recall its cantaloupe from the market place.
Earlier Chamberlain Farms had agreed to withdraw the cantaloupe from the market, and to cease distributing cantaloupes for the rest of the growing season. A formal recall should have been issued immediately after the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found on the farms cantaloupe. We are investigating whether an earlier recall would have prevented illness.
