The number of stores and states affected by the pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak has expanded, according to an outbreak update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The update does not include an increase in the number of illnesses reported – which has remained at 60 since the outbreak was announced on June 8, but the sizable expansion of affected stores and states represents a huge increase in the number of consumers potentially exposed to contaminated fruit.
When the outbreak was first announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 8, 60 Salmonella illnesses had been reported from five states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. Today’s update marks the third straight day that affected states have been added and the to the list which now includes almost half the country.
The 23 states where pre-cut melon potentially contaminated with Salmonella was distributed are: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The list of store locations, now 45 pages long, has grown to include dozens of stores: Belletini Foods, Costco, DK’s Market, Food 4 Less, Gordon Foods,Jay C, Jekyll Market, KFresh, Kroger, Owen’s, Payless, Peapod, Piggly Wiggly, Shop N Save, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Tom’s,Trader Joe’s, Viking, Walgreens, Walmart, Whole Foods and more. Health officials urge consumers to view the list of affected stores in their state before purchasing or eating products containing pre-cut melon they have at home.
On June 12, the national food safety law firm Pritzker Hageman filed a lawsuit against Caito Foods, LLC in Indianapolis on behalf of a 73-year-old Ohio woman who was sickened in this outbreak. The plaintiff purchased a pre-cut fruit product produced by Caito from a Walmart store in Findlay, Ohio. One day after she ate the fruit, she developed symptoms of a Salmonella infection which include stomach cramps and diarrhea. These symptoms persisted and worsened over the course of several days and she was eventually admitted to the hospital with a pervasive Salmonella infection. She has since been discharged to a rehab center where she remains, according to the lawsuit filed by Pritzker Hageman attorney Fred Pritzker.
If you developed a Salmonella infection after eating pre-cut melon sold in clear, plastic containers from one of the affected store locations and would like a free consultation with Fred, contact him online or call toll-free at 1(888) 377-8900.