I love watching “The Deadliest Catch” when I ever watch T.V. The thought of working in freezing weather in 30-foot swells (I get really seasick) catching crabs for rich people has certain flair to it. The risk is palpable – food meets death. However, I am not so certain that the popular “Rocky Ford” cantaloupe could sustain an audience. Really, how much risk can a cantaloupe have?
Well, apparently way too much.
The CDC as of September 21 listed eight deaths linked to Jensen Farms and Frontera Listeria-tainted cantaloupe from 14 states: 2 in Colorado, 1 in Maryland, 4 in New Mexico, and 1 in Oklahoma.
According to the FDA, cantaloupes were shipped to at least 25 states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
What I expect the CDC to confirm Monday or Tuesday is at least 12 deaths: Colorado: 2 deaths, Kansas: 2 deaths, Maryland: 1 death, Missouri: 1 death, Nebraska: 1 death, New Mexico: 4 deaths and Oklahoma: 1 death.
And, here is a bit of history about deaths in foodborne illness outbreaks:
- January 1985
- Vehicle: cheese
- Number ill: 86
- Deaths: 29
Bil Mar Foods Ready-to-eat Meats Listeria Outbreak
- January 1998
- Vehicle: deli and cured meats
- Number ill: 108
- Deaths: 14
Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Salmonella Outbreak
- September 2008
- Vehicle: Peanuts and peanut butter
- Number ill: 716
- Deaths: 9
Pilgrim’s Pride Listeria Outbreak
- July 2002
- Vehicle: deli meats
- Number ill: 54
- Deaths: 8
Dole Brand Natural Selections Bagged Spinach E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
- August 2006
- Vehicle: spinach
- Number ill: 238
- Deaths: 5
SanGar Produce Listeria Outbreak
- January 2010
- Vehicle: celery
- Number ill: 10
- Deaths: 5
Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
- November 1992
- Vehicle: ground beef
- Number ill: 708
- Deaths: 4
Chi Chi’s Hepatitis A Outbreak
- October 2003
- Vehicle: green onions
- Number ill: 660
- Deaths: 4