After almost 20 years – yes, it has been that long since the Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak – a few years ago I started loosing track of the number of foodborne illness outbreaks.  That is why we developed the Foodborne Illness Outbreak Database.

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The database has come in handy to track just how often cantaloupes – and other foods – have caused problems.  Here is a sample platter of outbreaks linked to cantaloupe with links to citations (Download as PDF):

No.

Year

State(s)

Confirmed Illnesses

Pathogen

Description

1.

1985

Wisconsin

16

Campylobacter

Melon or cantaloupe

2.

1990

30 States

245

Salmonella

Cut cantaloupe at salad bars

3.

1991

International, including U.S.

400

Salmonella

Mexican cantaloupe

4.

1997

California

24

Salmonella

Mexican cantaloupe

5.

1998

Ontario, Canada

22

Salmonella

Cantaloupe

6.

1999

Iowa

61

Norovirus

Restaurant, cantaloupe or melon

7.

2000

California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Nevada

47

Salmonella

Mexican cantaloupe

8.

2001

California, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Georgia, Nevada

50

Salmonella

Viva Brand cantaloupe

9.

2002

California, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Arkansas, Vermont, Washington, Nevada, Texas

58

Salmonella

Susie Brand cantaloupe

10.

2003

New York, Ohio, New Mexico, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Missouri

58

Salmonella

Day care center and private homes, cantaloupe/honeydew melon

11.

2006

Multi-State and International

41

Salmonella

Cantaloupe cut at processing facility in Canada

12.

2007

California

11

Salmonella

Private home cantaloupe

13.

2008

15 States

53

Salmonella

Agropecuraria Mobtelibano cantaloupe, from Honduras

14.

2008

California

23

Norovirus

Restaurant, melon and cantaloupe

15.

2011

11 States

20

Salmonella

Del Monte cantaloupe

16.

2011

28 States

147

Listeria

Jensen Farms cantaloupe

17.

2012

20 States

141

Salmonella

Indiana Farm cantaloupe