Update on Honduran Cantaloupes

Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is updating Georgians on problems with some cantaloupes imported from Honduras. The melons may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s import alert of March 22, four companies have recalled the following:

Simply Fresh Fruit,  Los Angeles, CA
The products being recalled nationwide include: Simply Fresh Fruit Brand food service Fruit Mix in Syrup products dated “sell by 4 – 18 08” or earlier, food service Cantaloupe Chunks in Syrup products dated “sell by 4 – 08 8” or earlier, and retail and club store Simply Fresh, Fresh Cut Fruit Brand containing cantaloupe dated “sell by 3 – 29 8”or earlier.  Retail and club store products involved were removed from sale prior to Monday, March 24.  Foodservice distributors who sell their own brand, have been notified, and are recalling the products involved.  Foodservice products are packed in plastic pails or jars, and retail products are packed in plastic trays.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Simply Fresh Fruit at (323) 586-0000.

Central American Produce, Inc., Pompano Beach, FL
Central American Produce, Inc. is voluntarily recalling cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an independent third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras. The product was distributed nationwide and in Canada. The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in medium brown cardboard cartons with the brands “Mikes Melons” or “Mayan Pride” all showing “PRODUCE OF HONDURAS” printed on each of the four side panels of the carton. The address of the shipper appears on one end panel of the carton as follows:

GROWN, PACKED AND SHIPPED BY:
AGROPECUARIA MONTELIBANO
SAN LORENZO, VALLE, HONDURAS

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Central American Produce, Inc. at (954) 943-2303.

T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. is recalling whole cantaloupe fruits which carry a “Mike’s Melons” sticker, although some may be unlabeled because this sticker has fallen off.  Whole cantaloupe fruits subject to this recall were sold in boxes marked with the following text: “Cantaloupe, Mike’s Melons, Produce of Honduras, Grown, Packed and Shipped by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras.” The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and processors in Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey, and may have reached consumers through grocery stores, restaurants, or other similar channels.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact T.M. Kovacevich International, Inc. at (215) 336-3160.

Bounty Fresh, LLC, Miami, FL
Bounty Fresh, LLC is issuing a nationwide recall of whole cantaloupe fruits which are packed three melons in a sleeve under the brand “Chestnut Hill Farms” and one melon per sleeve under the “Perfect Melon” brand. Individual melons are not labeled, but sleeves contain tags that say either “Perfect Melon” (one count) or “Chestnut Hill Farms” (3 count).   Whole cantaloupe fruits subject to this recall were sold in boxes marked with the following text: “Cantaloupe, “Chestnut Hill Farms” ( 3 count) or “Perfect Melon” (one  count) , Produce of Honduras, Grown, Packed and Shipped by Agropecuaria Montelibano, San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras”. All boxes also contain the Chestnut Hill Farms logo.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Bounty Fresh, LLC at (305) 592-6969.

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. Cincinnati, OH Chiquita Brands International, Inc. is voluntarily recalling cantaloupes that were grown, packed and shipped by independent third-party grower Agropecuaria Montelibano. The cantaloupes were distributed for sale throughout the U.S. and Canada in cardboard cartons with the brands "Mike's Melons," "Mayan Pride" and "Chiquita" all showing "PRODUCE OF HONDURAS" printed on each of the side panels of the carton. The address of the shipper appears on one end panel of the carton as follows:

GROWN, PACKED AND SHIPPED BY:
AGROPECUARIA MONTELIBANO
SAN LORENZO, VALLE, HONDURAS

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Chiquita Brands International, Inc. at (800) 242-5472.

Symptoms of food borne Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.

Additional information can be found on the FDA’s website at http://www.fda.gov/ or by calling 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

More information will be released as it becomes available.

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