Texas importer issues recall for suspect Mexican cantaloupe

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ A McAllen, Texas, importer and distributor of Susie brand cantaloupe from Mexico said Saturday it was issuing a voluntary nationwide recall of the product because it has been associated

Saturday, May 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A McAllen, Texas, importer and distributor of Susie brand cantaloupe from Mexico said Saturday it was issuing a voluntary nationwide recall of the product because it has been associated with outbreaks of illness in the United States and Canada.

In a statement, the I. Kunik Co. said the organism Salmonella poona has infected dozens of people and can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy people infected with the organism often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The cantaloupes were sold in retail stores and restaurants and possibly other institutions, and they were advised to remove them from sale.

Kunik said recall was triggered after the Food and Drug Administration traced back the illness reports to the Susie brand fruit. The federal agency has acted to prevent the importation of any other suspect cantaloupe, it said.