Health’s Blog

Charlie’s Produce of Spokane, WA is recalling Charlie’s Produce Brand Cut Cantaloupe Products, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The products recalled by Charlie’s Produce Spokane include the following fruit items containing cut cantaloupe:

Retail Products:

* Cut Fruit 4 Section – 40oz

* Cut Cantaloupe – 24oz, 16oz, 8oz

* Cut Honeydew/Cantaloupe - 16oz

* Mixed Fruit –24oz, 16oz, 8oz

* Rainbow - 24oz, 16oz, 8oz

* Cut Fruit Tray Deli – 12′, 8′

* Cut Fruit Tray - 76oz, 40oz 8′

* Grab & Go Fruit Tray - 16oz

Foodservice Products:

* Cut Cantaloupe – 20lb, 64oz

* Cut Mixed Fruit – 20lb, 64oz

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations to the regions affected by severe weather and flooding in the Central United States. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to food spoilage from power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events.

“Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be restored to residential areas,” said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. “Without electricity or a cold source, foods stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, and if these foods are consumed, people can become very sick.”

Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:

* Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.

* Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below.

* Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out.

* Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.

* Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.

* Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.

* Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.

* Group food together in the freezer - this helps the food stay cold longer.

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