Another fruit company recalls cantaloupe products possibly linked to deadly outbreak

Cut Fruit Express Inc. of Inver Grove Heights, MN, is recalling Caribou Coffee Fruit Mix CHPG 6.5-ounce, and Cut Fruit Express Brand of 6.5-ounce, 15-ounce, 16-ounce and 32-ounce packages of fruit mix that contain cantaloupe and food service packages of 5-pound trays, 10-pound bags and 25-pound pails, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Caribou Coffee Fruit Mix CHPG 6.5-ounce was distributed from Caribou Stores at the MSP Airport Caribou locations in the MSP Airport, Minnesota. The product comes in a clear plastic package. The use-by date was Nov. 4. The remainder of the recalled “Fresh Cut Fruit Mix containing Cantaloupes” under Cut Fruit Express and food service packaging was distributed through in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois via retail and food service delivery. The use-by dates were Nov. 4 through Nov. 6.

The retail product comes in with use-by dates of Nov. 4 through Nov. 6 on the top label and food service product comes with a date label of Nov. 3 on the bag, tray or a label with use-by date on the pail. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem with our products.

Cut Fresh Express did not include any photos of recalled products in its recall notice.

Cut Fruit Express learned that their supplier is issuing a recall on cantaloupes for potential contamination of Salmonella. Cut Fruit Express is initiating a recall on the affected product that contains the recalled cantaloupe. The affected products were shipped between Oct. 24 through Oct. 26.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Any questions or concerns please contact Shelley Ryan at 952-746-2705.

Outbreak information and details about other recalls
As of Nov. 30, there were 117 confirmed patients in the United States, up by 18 since the previous update on Nov. 24. At lease 61 of the patients have required hospitalization and two people have died. The outbreak stretches across 34 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

An outbreak in Canada linked to cantaloupe has sickened 63 as of Nov. 24, with 17 of them hospitalized and one dead. The implicated cantaloupe in both countries was imported from Mexico.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cantaloupe is still making people sick and advises consumers, retailers and food service operators to throw out any cantaloupe that is of an undetermined brand.

In addition to the recalls of fresh cantaloupes there is concern that people may have frozen some cut cantaloupe products for future use. Consumers should check to see if they have any of the recalled cantaloupe on hand and dispose of it. If it is unclear whether the cantaloupe has been recalled, it should be thrown away.

The FDA, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. state and local partners, in collaboration with Canada, are investigating the outbreak. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis shows that clinical isolates from the ill people in Canada, are genetically related to the ill people in the United States. The FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified Sofia Produce LLC dba TruFresh; Crown Jewels Produce; and Pacific Trellis Fruit dba Dulcinea as suppliers of the potentially contaminated whole “Malichita” or “Rudy” brand cantaloupes. All three companies have initiated recalls of their whole cantaloupes.

In addition to the whole cantaloupes, a number of recalls of pre-cut fruit products have been recalled because they were made with the recalled cantaloupes. Those products are:

Date of recall	Title	Product Description	Company Name
11/14/2023	Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company	Cantaloupe Chunks and Cubes and Fruit Mixes and Medleys Containing Cantaloupe	Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company
11/22/2023	CF Dallas, LLC	Fresh cut fruit products	CF Dallas, LLC
11/28/2023	Kwik Trip	Fruit cups and trays containing cantaloupe	Kwik Trip
11/28/2023	Bix Produce	Fruit cups containing cantaloupe	Bix Produce
11/29/2023	GHGA, LLC	Fruit cups and trays containing cantaloupe	GHGA, LLC

For recall details and photos of recalled products, use the links in the table.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.