Here we go again.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 60 cases from five states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. The CDC investigation indicates pre-cut melons, including fruit salads, are a likely source of this multistate outbreak.  SpartanNashappears to be the supplier and processor.

“The Illinois Department of Public Healthis urging people not to eat pre-cut melon purchased from any Walmart store in Illinois, or any of the other affected states, at this time,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D. “If you have recently purchased pre-cut melon from Walmart, throw it out. If you have recently eaten pre-cut melon from a Walmart store and experience diarrhea, fever, and cramps, contact your health care provider.”

Illinois cases range in age from 23 to 87 years and have been reported in all regions of the state. Therefore, it is recommended that people not eat pre-cut melon from Walmart stores anywhere in Illinois. As the investigation continues, additional grocery stores may be added.

Most people affected by Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after eating food contaminated by the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, diarrhea for some people may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. The CDC has indicated there have been more hospitalizations with this outbreak than what is typically seen. The elderly, infants, and those with compromised immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working to identify the source of Salmonella and there may be recalls as more information is learned. Walmart stores in Illinois have removed pre-cut melons linked to this outbreak from their shelves.

Thanks to Outbreak Database, we can sadly keep tabs:

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 Likely 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 Multi-state and International 50 Salmonella Viva Brand cantaloupe
9. 2002 California, Minnesota, Oregon, Arkansas, Vermont, 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
13. 2008 Multi-State 53 Salmonella Agropecuraria Mobtelibano cantaloupe, from Honduras
14. 2008 California 23 Norovirus Restaurant, melon and cantaloupe
15. 2011 Multi-State 20 Salmonella Del Monte cantaloupe
16. 2011 Multi-State 147 Listeria Jensen Farms cantaloupe
17. 2012 Multi-State 261 Salmonella Indiana Farm cantaloupe
18. 2017 Oregon and Washington 18 Salmonella Fred Meyer Cut

Salmonella:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $650 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants.  The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart.

If you or a family member became ill with a Salmonellainfection, including Reactive Arthritisor Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Salmonella attorneys for a free case evaluation.