Fresh Fruit Recalled Over Salmonella Risk
- A fresh fruit recall affecting Florida shoppers was announced after potential Salmonella contamination was identified. - The recall covers fruit sold in four states, including Florida, according to the FDA notification. - Consumers should check product labels and lot numbers and return affected items; FDA lists details online (patch.com).
Florida shoppers are being told to check whole cantaloupes after Ayco Farms recalled 8,302 cartons over possible Salmonella contamination. (fda.gov, foodsafetynews.com) The fruit was distributed in Florida, California, New York, and Pennsylvania, and the recall was first initiated on March 24, 2026. On April 20, the Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class I recall, the agency’s most serious category. (foodsafetynews.com, marketwatch.com) The recalled product is Ayco brand fresh whole cantaloupe, wrapped in food-safe plastic bags and packed in corrugated cardboard cartons with 6 to 12 melons per box. The affected lot numbers include 29 codes, from GC26257 and GC26270 through SCX2633 and SGC2607. (foodsafetynews.com, iheart.com) Salmonella is a bacteria that can make food unsafe even when it looks and smells normal. The Food and Drug Administration says some recalls do not stem from a confirmed outbreak, and its active outbreak list does not identify these cantaloupes as the source of a current named investigation. (foodsafetynews.com, fda.gov) People sickened by Salmonella often develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Food Safety News reported that infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of severe illness. (foodsafetynews.com, fda.gov) Ayco Farms said in an April 2026 statement that it notified customers directly as part of the recall process and said no recalled product remained on the market because the shipments were from the winter season. The company said there was “no active recall” in commerce, but the Food and Drug Administration’s Class I classification remains the public warning consumers can check against labels and lot numbers. (marketwatch.com, foodsafetynews.com) Anyone who still has one of the listed melons should not eat it and should return it or throw it away. If symptoms start after eating cantaloupe, doctors may need to test specifically for salmonellosis. (foodsafetynews.com, fda.gov)
