Cantaloupe Salmonella Recall
- U.S. cantaloupes were recalled nationwide over possible salmonella contamination. - The FDA upgraded the recall to its highest risk level, saying exposure could cause serious health consequences. - One grower, Ayco Farms says it is not recalling its cantaloupes and reports FDA samples of its lots tested negative, so brand and lot details matter for consumers. (people.com, businesswire.com)
A cantaloupe recall that resurfaced in national headlines this week traces back to a March action by Ayco Farms, and the Food and Drug Administration has now classified it as Class I, its most serious recall category. (fda.gov, yahoo.com) News reports say the recall covered 8,302 cartons of whole fresh cantaloupes distributed to Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and California. The Food and Drug Administration updated the classification on April 20, 2026. (foodsafetynews.com, yahoo.com) Class I means the Food and Drug Administration believes there is a reasonable probability that using or eating the product could cause serious health consequences or death. That label is the agency’s highest-risk recall category. (fda.gov, yahoo.com) Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, usually starting 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and lasting 4 to 7 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration say children under 5, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face higher odds of severe illness. (cdc.gov, fda.gov) Ayco Farms says there is no active recall now and that recent coverage has made an expired market action sound current. The company said all product and environmental samples, including lots tested by Food and Drug Administration investigators in the United States, were negative for Salmonella. (businesswire.com, businesswire.com) That split between the agency classification and the company’s response is why brand and lot details matter. Ayco Farms said the fruit tied to the March recall was shipped in December and January, had already passed shelf life by the time of the March notification, and affected customers were contacted directly. (businesswire.com, businesswire.com) The Food and Drug Administration’s public recall pages and dashboards can list recalls, classifications, and enforcement reports on different timelines, which helps explain why an older action can suddenly draw fresh attention after a classification update. The agency says enforcement reports include recalls it monitors, including ones that were not yet classified when first listed. (fda.gov, fda.gov) For shoppers, the practical question is not whether every cantaloupe is affected, but whether a specific melon matches the recalled product information from the March action. For anyone who already ate suspect fruit and develops diarrhea, fever, or severe cramps, federal health agencies say to contact a health care provider. (businesswire.com, cdc.gov)
