Recalled Cantaloupes Shipped to New Jersey, Officials Say

Whole cantaloupes possibly contaminated with Listeria were shipped to New Jersey in an outbreak that has killed 13 people and impacted more than a dozen states, according to federal officials.

The cantaloupe has been traced to Jensen Farms in Colorado, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Jensen Farms voluntarily recalled its Rocky Ford cantaloupe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

The recalled cantaloupes were shipped from the Rocky Ford growing region of Colorado between July 29 and Sept. 10, the FDA said in a Sept. 14 news release.

The CDC reported 72 people in 18 states have been sickened with four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria in what is reportedly one of the deadliest food-borne illness outbreaks in a decade.

"CDC recommends that persons at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, do not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms," the agency said on its website. "Other consumers who want to reduce their risk of Listeria infection should not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms"

No deaths or illness were reported in New Jersey, according to the CDC.

Potentially contaminated cantaloupe may be labeled “Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, USA, Pesticide Free, Jensenfarms.com, Sweet Rocky Fords,” the FDA said.

The FDA offered the following tips on dealing with the outbreak:

What are the Symptoms of Listeriosis? Listeriosis is a rare and serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria. Persons who think they might have become ill should consult their doctor. A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches. 

Who is at Risk? Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include older adults, people with compromised immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions (such as cancer), and unborn babies and newborns. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and serious illness or death in newborn babies, though the mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill. 

What Do Consumers Need To Do? Consumers should not eat Rocky Ford Cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms and should immediately discard the recalled cantaloupes in the trash in a sealed container so that children and animals, such as wildlife, cannot access them. Consumers who are concerned about illness from Listeria monocytogenes should consult their healthcare professionals. 

What Does the Product Look Like? The cantaloupe may be labeled: Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, USA, Pesticide Free, Jensenfarms.com, Sweet Rocky Fords. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm271882.htm 

The cantaloupes are packed in cartons that are labeled: Frontera Produce, www.fronteraproduce.com or with Frontera Produce, Rocky Ford Cantaloupes. Both cartons also include: Grown and packed by Jensen Farms Granada, CO and Shipped by Frontera Produce LTD, Edinburg, Texas. Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker. Consumers should consult the retailer if they have questions about the origin of a cantaloupe.