More cantaloupe linked to outbreak recalled in Canada; death toll increases to 8 in bi-national outbreak

Twenty-eight more cantaloupe products have been recalled in Canada because of a link to a Salmonella outbreak that has killed five people in that country.

The new recall is for unbranded pre-cut cantaloupe sold nationwide, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA did not report the name of the recalling company.

The pre-cut cantaloupe products have best-by dates of Nov. 11, but there is concern that some people may have frozen the cantaloupe for future use. Use this link to find descriptions of the newly recalled cantaloupe.

As of Dec. 7, there have been 129 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella illness linked to this outbreak in Canada. Additional Salmonella infections are under investigation and more illnesses associated with this outbreak may be confirmed. Individuals became sick between mid-October and mid-November 2023. Forty-four individuals have been hospitalized. Five deaths have been reported. Individuals who became ill are between 0 to 100 years of age. 

The Canadian outbreak is linked to an outbreak in the United States where 230 people have been confirmed ill with the outbreak strains. Of those patients, 96 have been hospitalized and three have died. The outbreak spreads across 38 states.

A number of recalls have been initiated in both countries, but two recalls are key in the outbreaks. Malichita and Rudy brand whole cantaloupes from Mexico appear to be the problem and have been recalled in the United States and Canada. However, additional recalls of freshcut cantaloupe products — including mixed fruit products — are also under recall because they contain cantaloupe of the Malichita and Rudy brands.

In the United States, the recalled cantaloupe products are listed here.

In Canada lists of the recalled cantaloupe can be found here.

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