An Arizona company has expanded its recall of fresh cantaloupe to include more melons after testing has shown contamination with Salmonella.

The Malichita brand cantaloupes were distributed in 11 states by Sofia Produce LLC doing business as Trufresh. The company already recalled cantaloupes on Nov. 8. 

Cantaloupe sold under the Malichita brand have been traced to an outbreak of Salmonella infections in Canada. The cantaloupes were imported to the United States and Canada from Mexico. 

Trufresh initiated the recall after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency determined that additional cantaloupes have possible Salmonella contamination, according to the company’s recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The expanded recall covers cantaloupes with the following sale order numbers: 128663, 128712, 128713, 128662, 128680, 225252, 225231, 419719, 419721, 419828, 419803, 612235, 612273. The implicated cantaloupes were distributed between Oct. 16 and Oct. 23.

The cantaloupes were distributed directly to the following states: Arizona, California. Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and Canada. The cantaloupes would have reached consumers through retail produce markets, which may be located in states other than those listed above.

The Cantaloupes are packaged in cardboard containers bearing the Malichita label. The cantaloupes also have an individual PLU sticker placed upon each cantaloupe. The PLU sticker has a top half which is white which has the word “Malichita” written in script in black letters. The bottom of the PLU sticker is black and has the number “4050” prominently displayed in white letters together with the words “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.” This label will identify individual Malichita cantaloupes purchased by consumers.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the subject cantaloupes, to date.

Consumers should take the following actions:

  • Check to see if you have recalled products
  • Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where tfreshhey were purchased
  • Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled product are advised to contact their retailer
  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider

Information for commercial buyers:

  • Trufresh is contacting each of the individual buyers under the foregoing orders to advise them of the recall. If the buyers associated with the above sales order numbers have not already been contacted by Trufresh, they should contact Trufresh at the number below.
  • Buyers associated with the above sales order numbers should remove any remaining product from their sales inventory.
  • Additional Order Numbers: 128663, 128712, 128713, 128662, 128680, 225252, 225231, 419719, 419721, 419828, 419803, 612235, 612273
  • Order Numbers Already Subject to Recall: 0128556, 0128624, 0128630, 0128632, 0128640, 0128643, 0128644, 0128646, 0128648, 0128651, -0128656, 0128669, 0128680, 0128682, 0128683, 0128700, 0225200, 0225201, 0225206, 0225214, 0225219, 0225222, 0225226, 0225227, 0225228, 0419611, 0419629, 0419630, 0419636, 0419671, 0419688, 0419693, 0419696, 0419697, 0419704, 0419710, 0419718, 0419772, 0516255, 0516268, 0516271, 0516279, 0516301, 0612143, 0612144, 0612148, 0612154, 0612156, 0612158, 0612171, 0612190, 0612191, 0612197, 0612198, 0612209, 0612225

The commercial buyers should then dispose of the product and retain their records of disposal.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting Rafael Roiz ,Tru Fresh’s representative at 520-394-7370.

Link to Initial Press Release

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 of the recalled cantaloupe 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.

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