Distributor recalled papaya for Salmonella; didn’t tell public

Grande Produce LLC, the importer of Caribeña brand Maradol papayas linked to a deadly and ongoing Salmonella outbreak, has “initiated a limited recall” of the fruit distributed nationwide from July 10-19, according to the Food and Drug Administration — but the company has not made the recall public.

Because the company, based in San Juan, TX, has not revealed the recall to the public, the federal agency is warning consumers to avoid all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas because they have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has killed one person and sickened 46 others across 12 states.

FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maryland Department of Health and other state and local public health agencies are investigating the outbreak.

FDA is advising consumers to avoid all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas. The FDA also noted that there are illnesses in states where Grande Produce did not distribute papayas and is continuing its investigation.

The CDC posted this photo with its outbreak notice. Photo courtesy of CDC

According to FDA’s update, posted this afternoon:

• Consumers should not to eat Caribeña brand Maradol papayas because they are linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis. Maradol papayas are green before they ripen and turn yellow, so consumers should not eat Caribeña brand regardless of the color. If anyone has these papayas in their home, they should dispose of them immediately. These can be identified by a red, green and yellow sticker.
• Papaya samples taken by MDH from a Baltimore retail location tested positive for the strains of Salmonella Kiambu and Thompson found in ill people.
• CDC recommends people should not eat Maradol papayas from Mexico. FDA continues its traceback investigation. At this time, Caribeña brand papayas from Mexico have been identified as a brand linked to these illnesses. Additional brands will be announced as the information becomes available.
• CDC reports 47 cases,12 hospitalizations and one death from 12 states in the Salmonella Kiambu outbreak. The states involved are IA, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, NJ, NY, PA, TX, UT and VA. CDC is working to collect additional information to determine whether the recent Salmonella Thompson illness in Maryland is part of this multistate outbreak.

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from Food Recalls – Food Safety News http://ift.tt/2uV5qUt