Fresh Fruit Salmonella Recall Affects Florida
- Fresh fruit sold in Florida is part of a multi-state salmonella recall, officials say. - The recall covers fruit sold in four states, including Florida, and targets specific batches and retailers. - Consumers should discard affected fruit or return it for refund; check FDA recall details (patch.com)
Fresh cantaloupes shipped to Florida are under a salmonella recall, and the Food and Drug Administration has now classified it as Class I, its most serious risk level. (pix11.com) The recall involves Ayco Farms Inc. of Pompano Beach, Florida, and covers about 8,302 cartons distributed in Florida, California, New York, and Pennsylvania. Each cardboard carton held 6 to 12 whole melons wrapped in food-safe plastic bags. (pix11.com) Published reports said the company initiated the recall on March 24, 2026, and the Food and Drug Administration upgraded it on April 20, 2026. The affected lot numbers include GC26257, GC26270, GC26288 through GC26328, plus SCX2601 through SCX2633 and SGC2601, SGC2602, and SGC2607. (pix11.com) Salmonella is a bacteria that causes foodborne illness, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is a leading cause of food poisoning in the United States. The agency says symptoms commonly include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. (cdc.gov) Cut melon is one of the foods the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists as more likely to carry harmful germs, which is why produce recalls can move quickly once contamination is suspected. The agency tells consumers to throw recalled food away. (cdc.gov) The cantaloupes in this recall were sold whole, not pre-cut, but salmonella on a rind can still spread when the fruit is sliced at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises rinsing fresh produce under running water and washing hands, knives, boards, and counters after handling it. (cdc.gov) People who already bought the recalled fruit should check the lot codes, discard the melons, and clean any surfaces that touched them. The recall notice said the cantaloupes were not distributed abroad or to government agencies. (pix11.com)
