Ayco Farms cantaloupe outbreak ends: 70 sick

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on May 13 that a Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to cantaloupe supplied by Ayco Farms Inc. had ended after 70 illnesses were reported across 25 states. FDA said its traceback investigation identified Ayco Farms of Pompano Beach, Florida, as a common supplier of imported cantaloupe from Guatemala. The agency said there does not appear to be any ongoing risk to public health and that consumers are not being advised to avoid cantaloupe. The FDA posted the update on its outbreak investigations page rather than in a standalone consumer advisory. The agency said it worked with Ayco Farms after identifying the company in the traceback review and that the firm initiated a voluntary recall even though the imported cantaloupe was likely past shelf life and no longer on the market. (fda.gov) ### When did investigators link the illnesses to Ayco Farms? FDA said the outbreak involved Salmonella Newport and was tracked internally as reference No. 1366. The agency said epidemiological information collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tied 70 confirmed illnesses in 25 states to the same strain, while FDA’s traceback work identified Ayco Farms as a common supplier. (fda.gov) Food Safety News reported on May 14 that federal investigators had declared the outbreak over after the update appeared on the FDA page. Food Poisoning Bulletin also reported on May 14 that the outbreak had ended with 70 sick in 25 states. ### What fruit was recalled, and when was it pulled? Ayco Farms initiated a voluntary recall on March 24 covering 8,302 cartons of whole cantaloupes, according to reports that cited the FDA enforcement report. (fda.gov) The fruit was distributed to retailers in California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. (foodsafetynews.com) Ayco Farms said on April 10 that its customer notifications were issued in coordination with FDA and that the timing reflected the agency’s recall reporting process. The company said then that there was no active recall and no product remaining in the market. (foodsafetynews.com) ### Why did FDA say there is no current warning for shoppers? FDA said the implicated imported cantaloupe was likely past shelf life by the time investigators identified Ayco Farms as the common supplier. The agency said Ayco Farms still initiated a voluntary recall to make sure downstream customers did not further process the fruit and extend its shelf life. (financialcontent.com) The FDA page now says there is no recommendation for consumers to avoid cantaloupe. That language differs from outbreak notices issued when products remain in commerce, and the agency said this investigation did not appear to present an ongoing public health risk. ### What did regulators do beyond closing the outbreak? (fda.gov) FDA said it placed Ayco San Jorge Y Compania Limitada and Agrobassy Y Cia Ltda on import alert 99-35 as part of the investigation. The agency said that action subjects cantaloupes from those firms to automatic detention without physical examination. (fda.gov) The FDA said product from those firms will not enter U.S. commerce until they have demonstrated that they have overcome the violations that led to the action. The agency has not, on the page it posted this week, listed a separate public advisory with additional consumer steps tied to this outbreak. (fda.gov) ### Where can readers track any next regulatory step? FDA said outbreak updates are posted on its investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks page, which now lists the cantaloupe case as ended. The same update says the import alert remains in place for Ayco San Jorge Y Compania Limitada and Agrobassy Y Cia Ltda until the firms show they have corrected the cited violations. (fda.gov)