Cantaloupes Recalled Because Of Salmonella Contamination

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A wholesale produce importer on Friday recalled several thousand cartons of cantaloupes after some tested positive for salmonella. <br/><br/>Castle Produce said the recall covered roughly

Friday, February 23rd 2007, 10:15 pm

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ A wholesale produce importer on Friday recalled several thousand cartons of cantaloupes after some tested positive for salmonella.

Castle Produce said the recall covered roughly 2,560 cartons of cantaloupes delivered on or after Feb. 16 to wholesalers in Los Angeles and San Francisco for distribution in the western states. The cantaloupes originated in Costa Rica.

It wasn't clear if the cantaloupes had reached stores.

The recall is the second involving the fruit this month. The Dole Fresh Fruit Co. has recalled about 6,100 cartons of cantaloupes distributed to wholesalers in the eastern United States and Quebec between Feb. 5 and Feb. 8. The cantaloupes also were imported from Costa Rica and tested positive for salmonella.

The source of the salmonella was a plastic basket used to hold the cantaloupes after they are harvested and washed, said Steven Reynolds, the company's chief financial officer. There have been no reports of illness due to the contaminated cantaloupes, Reynolds said.

The cantaloupes were distributed for sale in bulk in cardboard cartons, with nine, 12 or 15 melons to a carton.

Salmonella, which commonly originates from the feces of birds and animals, can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting.