25 Dead From Melons: FDA Points to Packing Facility

[n2doc]

By Maryn McKenna October 21, 2011


Federal health authorities have determined responsibility for the vast 26-state outbreak of Listeria in cantaloupes, almost three months — and 123 illnesses, 25 deaths and one miscarriage – since it began.

In a long report released this week, they say they found Listeria not in the fields where the melons were grown, but in the packing and cold storage facilities on the single large farm where they all came from; and, in addition, they identified some practices on the farm that may have caused Listeria contamination or allowed it to multiply.

Just as a reminder of what was at stake here since we last talked about it: This is the first time that Listeria was found on cantaloupe in the United States, meaning there wasn’t a lot of past science to draw on. And this was a huge outbreak: The farm had 480 acres in cantaloupe, and shipped more than 300,000 cases of it. The number of fruit involved, according to MSNBC.com, may have been as high as 4 million.



more

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/listeria-melon-packing/

[tabasco]

1. DAMN!

That sucks.

[gateley]

2. It seemed to take a while for them to located the source. I would

think they'd check all the huge cantaloupe sources, including the packing facilities. (Well they sure will next time.)

We need more people at the FDA. Seriously.

[indepat]

4. Don't got no money for the FDA or the EPA either, for that matter. Gotta require the big

three to take a $500 billion hit, gotta have troops in the embassy in Baghdad for training and weapons purposes. Gotta prioritize you know, cut the fat, let the old, frail, and poor either suck it up or die for that's the reality of living in a RW society. :patriot:

Edited to remove superfluous word and add an of.

[gateley]

10. I know. I'm sick about it all. nt

[PSPS]

3. The scourge of corporate farming: This one farm ships its death to 26 states.

The farm had 480 acres in cantaloupe, and shipped more than 300,000 cases of it. The number of fruit involved, according to MSNBC.com, may have been as high as 4 million.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. The farm in question is Jensen Farms in Colorado.

It was identified in a FDA recall notice Sept. 14th.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm271879.htm

This one farm sent contaminated fruit to half the country.

I subscribe to the FDA recall list, which I find very handy, allows me to avoid possible food problems.

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/GetEmailUpdates/default.htm

[Enrique]

6. Michele Bachmann wants to CUT food inspections

says it will create jobs.

[saras]

7. It will. Doctors, nurses, caretakers, gravediggers, funeral home operators.

[Tumbulu]

8. more jobs in the morgue

and in health care, I guess......

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. I threw all of my melon extract away after reading this, thanks. n/t