Why Are Cantaloupes Prone to Salmonella Contamination? - Verywell Health
Key Takeaways
- Thousands of cases of whole cantaloupes were recently recalled because of potential Salmonella contamination.
- Salmonella is the most common pathogen that can be found in cantaloupes and melons, but it's hard to trace a single contamination point.
- Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can lead to hospitalizations or deaths.
Over 6,000 cases of cantaloupes were recently recalled due to potential contamination with Salmonella.
This Salmonella contamination was caught by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during a test at a distribution center. No illnesses have been traced back to these cantaloupes, which were distributed by Eagle Produce LLC in more than a dozen states.
Salmonella is the most common pathogen to contaminate cantaloupes, according to Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, PhD, a food safety microbiologist and director and professor of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.
"Outbreaks with cantaloupes have been happening since the 1980s," Diez-Gonzalez told Verywell.
A rare Listeria outbreak in 2011 that resulted in 33 deaths was also linked to whole cantaloupes. Diez-Gonzalez said the FDA investigators found the outbreak was caused by a lack of sanitation practices among the workers who were packaging the melons. But when outbreaks involve Salmonella, investigators can't always pinpoint a single contamination point.
"It's a very complex situation, and most likely we will continue to see these events happening," he said.
Salmonella is linked to over 1.35 million illnesses in the United States each year and can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Most people recover within a few days, but some severe infections lead to hospitalizations or deaths.
Recalled Cantaloupes in September 2023
The FDA announced a voluntary recall of whole cantaloupes from Eagle Produce LLC on
September 28, 2023. The whole cantaloupes were sold under the "Kandy" brand and included lot codes 797901, 797900, and 804918.
The cantaloupes were distributed between September 5-16, 2023 in various supermarkets in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.
Consumers are encouraged to dispose of any cantaloupes they believe may have been included in this recall.
Why Are Cantaloupes Prone to Salmonella Contamination?
Cantaloupes could be contaminated with Salmonella while they're growing, or during harvest and handling, according to Teresa Bergholz, PhD, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University.
Melons are grown close to the ground, and it's possible that cantaloupes are exposed to bacteria from soil, animals, or the water used for irrigation.
"The 'netted' surface of the cantaloupe can facilitate microbes attaching to the surface, and can make it more difficult to remove microbes once they are present," Bergholz told Verywell in an email.
Bergholz added that contaminated cantaloupes could also come in contact with other cantaloupes during processing and spread the pathogen further.
How Should You Wash and Prepare Cantaloupes?
The FDA recommends washing cantaloupes under running water and scrubbing the fruit with a clean vegetable brush.
However, some research shows that Salmonella can also get inside the cantaloupe blossoms during the growing process and become internalized inside the fruit, which means that washing the rinds isn't always enough to kill the bacteria.
Heat can kill Salmonella—which is why raw and undercooked meat is often linked to this foodborne illness—but most people don't cook melons.
"All fresh fruits and vegetables are inherently riskier than products that you can cook," Diez-Gonzalez said.
The risks of severe Salmonella infections are highest for young children, older adults, and people who have suppressed immune systems.
"Foodborne disease is not just the presence of the pathogen; it also depends on our own immune system," he said.
To reduce your risk of infection, the FDA recommends buying cantaloupes that are not bruised or damaged.
Updates on recalls or outbreaks are also posted online by the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cantaloupes are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. Although washing the melons doesn't guarantee that all of the bacteria are destroyed, Diez-Gonzalez said, the recent recall shouldn't pose a risk to most people.
What This Means For You
Salmonella symptoms can show up anywhere from six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria. Most people don't need antibiotics and will recover within a few days. If you have any severe symptoms, reach out to a healthcare provider for the best course of treatment.
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