FDA Investigating a Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Carrau Linked to Pre-cut Melons

April 12, 2019

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau illnesses linked to pre-cut melon products. These products contain cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon, or may be mixes of some or all of these melons and other pre-cut fruit.

Caito Foods, LLC, of Indianapolis, Ind., has recalled products containing pre-cut melons because they are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Additionally, Caito Foods, LLC has temporarily suspended producing and distributing these products.

FDA worked with CDC and state partners to trace the distribution of pre-cut melon mixes from individual case patients back to Caito Foods, LLC. FDA is also continuing its traceback investigation to identify the specific source of these melons. Salmonella Carrau is a rare type of Salmonella but has been historically seen in imported melons. Reports from Caito Foods LLC indicate that imported melons were used in the suspect pre-cut melon mixes. FDA’s traceback investigation is examining shipping records to try to determine a country and if possible, a farm of origin for the melons.

FDA and Indiana authorities are currently inspecting and investigating, to include collecting samples for laboratory analysis, at the Caito Foods LLC processing facility where these melons were cut and packed.

Caito Foods, LLC was linked to a similar outbreak in 2018 involving Salmonella Adelaide in pre-cut melon products.

Recommendation

Consumers should not eat the recalled pre-cut melon products. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Consumers in these states who have purchased pre-cut melon products and cannot determine whether they were produced by Caito Foods, LLC should throw those products out.

These products were sold at the following retailers:

• Kroger under the Renaissance Food Group label
• Kroger under Boar’s Head Private Label
• Target under the Garden Highway Label
• Trader Joes under the Trader Joes label
• Walmart under a Freshness Guaranteed label
• Amazon/Whole Foods under the Whole Foods Market Label

Retailers and restaurants should also not serve the recalled pre-cut melon products and should throw the product out.

These products were distributed by:

• Caito Foods Distribution with the label “Distributed by Caito Foods”
• Gordon Food Service with the label “Distributed by Caito Foods”
• SpartanNash Distribution with the label “Open Acres”

What Products are Recalled?

The recalled products are listed in the Caito Food Services LLC press release.

A list of retail establishments that may have sold these products will be posted on the FDA website as the information becomes available. This list will be updated as new information becomes available.

Walmart management has reported to FDA that affected stores were instructed on 4/11/2019 to remove all the recalled products that were packed by Caito Foods, LLC.

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* We believe that none of the products being recalled were processed or offered through the Feeding America national office.  

For more information on this recall, please visit this FDA web page.