Papayas Responsible for Salmonella Outbreak, According to FDA

the CDC reports 47 cases of illness, 12 hospitalizations, and one death from a total of 12 states

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to stay away from all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas. The produce is linked to a recent multistate salmonella outbreak.

No consumer notification

Grande Produce, of San Juan, TX, informed the FDA that it initiated a limited recall of its Caribeña brand Maradol papayas distributed nationwide from July 7 through July 18, 2017. However, as of July 25, the company has not issued a press release to notify consumers of their recall. Therefore, the FDA is advising consumers to avoid all Caribeña brand Maradol papayas.

The FDA also noted that there are illnesses in states where Grande Produce did not distribute papayas and is continuing its investigation.

Avoid Maradol papayas from Mexico

The outbreak was initially detected by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), when it determined that several ill people shopped at the same Baltimore retail location and purchased papayas.

Papaya samples taken by MDH from the Baltimore location tested positive for salmonella.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 47 cases of illness, 12 hospitalizations, and one death from a total of 12 states related to the salmonella outbreak. The states involved are Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

The CDC recommends that people should not eat Maradol papayas from Mexico. The FDA continues its traceback investigation. At this time, Caribeña brand papayas from Mexico have been identified as a brand linked to these illnesses. Additional brands will be announced as the information becomes available.

dangers of Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious, sometimes fatal—infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others who have weak immune systems.

Those who are healthy and infected often experience symptoms such as fever, potentially-bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, salmonella infection can lead to the organism getting into the bloodstream, leading to more severe sicknesses like arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.

what should consumers do?

Maradol papayas are green before they ripen and turn yellow, so the FDA says that consumers should not eat Caribeña brand papayas regardless of the color. If anyone has these papayas in their home, they should dispose of them immediately. The papayas in question can be identified by a red, green, and yellow sticker shown here.