The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recently sent out a strong health statement warning people about the risks of eating cantaloupe that has already been cut up. This warning comes after a worrying wave of Salmonella attacks. At least five confirmed cases in Georgia have been directly linked to eating this fruit. There have been about 117 cases reported across the United States, and almost half of them needed to be hospitalized because their symptoms were so bad.
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Several Georgia residents suffered Salmonella attacks
People in Georgia who are harmed are from a wide range of age groups, from 1 to 81 years old. These cases are spread out across the state, which means that no one area is more affected than others. One of them had to go to the hospital but has since gotten better and been sent home.
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Cantaloupe that had already been cut up and sold at Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger shops in Georgia is thought to be the cause of the outbreak. Whole cantaloupes are also being recalled. They can be found with stickers that say “Malichita” or “Rudy,” followed by the number 4050 and the words “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.” Customers are advised to visit the FDA’s website for more information about the recall.
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What is Salmonella
Salmonella, the bacteria that caused this outbreak, usually makes people sick with diarrhea, fevers, and stomachaches. Within 4 to 7 days, most people get better without any medical help. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on the other hand, is worried about how bad this spread is. In some cases, people have had fevers over 102°F, been severely dehydrated because they couldn’t hold on to drinks, and had diarrhea that wouldn’t go away for more than three days. People who think they may have eaten the banned cantaloupe and are having serious symptoms should see a doctor right away.
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The Georgia Department of Public Health issues more informationÂ
The DPH highly advises against eating whole or pre-cut cantaloupes until their source is confirmed to be safe and not part of the ongoing recall. This is to stop the infection from spreading even more. People who have the recalled goods should either safely throw them away or take them back to the store where they were bought to get their money back.
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It’s important to note that rinsing pre-cut cantaloupe might not be enough to get rid of Salmonella if the fruit is already infected. Even washing whole cantaloupes can help get rid of some germs, but not all of them. It’s also important to know that germs on the cantaloupe’s outside can spread to knives and the inside of the fruit while it’s being cut. As a safety measure, you should wash any dishes, cutting boards, or other surfaces that may have come into touch with the cantaloupe very well in hot soapy water or a dishwasher.