Avoid Eating Cantaloupe (Rockmelon) (Salmonella Risk)

17833 on 02/08/2016 - 21:40
Last edited 03/08/2016 - 18:10 by 1 other user

Just a heads up for those here who may not have seen the new etc. There is a possible salmonella outbreak with regards to rockmelon, and the elderly, young and those with low immune systems are being advised not to consume it. My daughter is severely immunocompromised and has eaten about 3/4 of one in the last 3 days, so thought I would post this here so others can avoid it.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/salm…

Update: Further more comprehensive information here: http://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/rockmelon…

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • robertbruce on 02/08/2016 - 21:51
    +3

    thanks for this sparky, good info

  • Sweet3st on 03/08/2016 - 00:24
    +2

    probably pre cut

  • Rggmcl on 03/08/2016 - 01:43
    +2

    Pre cut certainly not advisable. Buy whole, wash skin well before cutting.

    • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2016 - 06:43
      +2

      Many incidents in the U.S. and a couple of directly attributed deaths in one outbreak. More than a dozen people also died from Listeria contaminated rockmelons, about five years ago.

      From one article, on Salmonella -

      Thanks to new research, we now know that Salmonella can actually penetrate the exterior of the melon, even when no bruising occurs, and Salmonella may also multiply on the outer portions of a melon after attachment. This means that any spot in the supply chain with extended ambient storage conditions will amplify the Salmonella problem, if it is there.
      Ingestion of just a few Salmonella may be tolerable to some healthy adults, but many strains are able to infect persons in low numbers. When numbers are high, consumers with underlying medical conditions will experience life-threatening effects, and all exposed persons can become ill to varying degrees if infected.
      Investigators have known about the melon’s food safety problem since at least the early 90s, when numerous nationwide outbreaks of Salmonella occurred with melons; tens of thousands of cases were reported in these outbreaks. Cantaloupes (musk melons) are most the most frequently identified melons in outbreaks, although watermelon and honeydew (rarely) have also caused outbreaks.

      OP is and will be suitably cautious with their kid.

  • AJW on 03/08/2016 - 10:04

    Thanks for the heads up, neither me or wife had seen this.
    Best to avoid altogether for many people, my daughter is also immuno suppressed (transplant)

  • c64 on 03/08/2016 - 10:42

    the article is not very informative. do they only mean processed or does it include whole?

  • tonyjzx on 03/08/2016 - 11:44

    I cant imagine how whole uncut melon is affected?

  • robertbruce on 03/08/2016 - 11:51

    i dindt even know a fruit could get salmonella but it can get into the skin of some species

    plenty on google

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