Dole Fresh Fruit Company, a subsidiary of Dole Food Company, Inc, has voluntarily recalled all Honduran cantaloupes grown, packed and shipped by an independent third-party grower, Agropecuaria Montelibano of San Lorenzo Valle, Honduras.
The recall was initiated based on information from the US Food and Drug Administration that fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the US and Canada.
The cantaloupes were distributed for sale throughout the United States and parts of Canada in cardboard cartons with the brand "Dole" and "PRODUCT OF HONDURAS" printed on each of the side panels of the carton.
Persons infected with Salmonella may experience a variety of symptoms and illnesses. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses and potentially can be fatal.
The FDA is advising US consumers who have recently bought cantaloupes to check with the place of purchase to determine if the fruit came from this specific grower and packer. If so, consumers are being told to throw away the cantaloupes.