Public health officials have identified papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc., a distributor in McAllen,Texas as the likely cause of the a recent Salmonella Agona outbreak that has sickened at least 97 people in 23 states and forced the recall of papaya in the United States and Canada. The CDC and FDA is warning consumers not to eat papayas with the following labels:

“The food industry has a responsibility to produce and sell only food free of contaminants or pathogens; no exceptions,” said Bill Marler, Managing Partner of Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm. “Today I am calling on Agromod to pay the medical bills and wages of all individuals who became ill with Salmonella infections as part of the outbreak.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can begin 6-72 hours after ingestion and include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. If you believe you may have a Salmonella infection consult a healthcare professional immediately. To learn more about Salmonella, visit www.about-salmonella.com.

A total of 97 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Agona have been reported from 23 states between January 1 and July 18, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (1), Georgia (8), Illinois (17), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (3), New York (6), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (25), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2).

Consumers, retailers and others who have papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc. should discard them in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.