That's my opinion and you are allowed to disagree!
(I've once killed a man with a cantaloupe, just to watch him die.)
Posted on 09/14/2011 7:03:45 PM PDT by bd476
Edited on 09/14/2011 7:19:16 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
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"...'Colorado has stated...that people at a high risk for infection should not eat whole cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford growing region." The recall covers cantaloupes sold between July 29 and Sept. 10..."
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"...Eleven illnesses in Colorado, one in Indiana, one in Nebraska, one in Oklahoma and two in Texas are linked to the listeriosis outbreak and contaminated cantaloupes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 11 illnesses in Colorado include one death, said CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell..."
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"...Jensen Farms said it shipped the recalled cantaloupes to Illinois, Wyoming, Tennessee, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Listeriosis usually causes fever, muscle aches and diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, according to the CDC..."
KOAT TV / ABC News
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
Melons Recalled After Deadly Bacteria Outbreak
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A voluntary recall is now in effect for certain cantaloupes after the state said the fruit is probably linked to a deadly outbreak of bacteria sweeping across the country.
UPDATED: 9:06 am MDT September 14, 2011
The numbers are concerning with three New Mexicans dead, 10 confirmed cases and more suspected cases being evaluated.
Consumers are urged to buy with caution because it’s looking more and more likely that a whole crop of cantaloupe from southern Colorado is behind the deadly listeria outbreak.
'The signs are all pointing towards these Rocky Four cantaloupes," Dr. Mark Dimenna said.... End excerpt. Story continues here:
Melons Recalled After Deadly Bacteria Outbreak
Yikes! I guess I’m going to lay off the cantaloupe for a while.
It is getting so you don’t dare eat anything anymore. :-(
Cantaloupe is one of my favorite foods yet even well washed, this is serious enough for me to skip eating cantaloupe altogether until they give the "all clear."
Were they organic???
Now just a bleepin second...are you indicating they were eating the rinds...or licking the skins? What the?
How do you "accidentally" contaminate the inside of a melon?
As soon as you slice through a melon, you contaminate the inside. The knife blade carries bacteria from the outside of the melon onto anything it touches, including the edible part.
I don't know.
I couldn't find any information about how they were contaminated, whether they were grown contaminated that is, without being cut, or whether the people didn't wash the outside of the cantaloupe before cutting them open.
Unwashed cantaloupe causing sickness would make more sense. Theoretically the knife blade would cut through a contaminated rind carrying the bacteria to the edible inside.
Usually it seems that when fruits and veggies have problems it comes out that they’re organically grown or from SA.
Sensible folks, who love cantaloupe, will just do diligence, and wash the outside with bleach and water before cutting into the deliciousness found inside.
Enough with these alarms, already!
Doesn’t any sensible woman know how to “keep house” these days? If you haven’t managed to snag one of these rare gems, get busy teaching your beloved other that she is worth her weight in gold coins, if only she gets up on this “housewifery stuff”.
As the old song said:
Can she bake a cherry pit, Billy-Boy, Billy Boy?
I wash all my fruits and vegetables, but I never thought of using bleach. No way listeria could survive that; it’s also the only effective way to kill the parvo dog bug.
ah, for the edit function here on FR! particularly later in the evening.
“pit” = “pie”.
But so many of you are probably too young to even know the song, so I am just wasting pixels.
(I've once killed a man with a cantaloupe, just to watch him die.)
A perfectly logical explanation. If that's the case, it must be a real virulent pathogen.
What about using vinegar....that’s what I do - spray stuff with vinegar, then wash...
Safe Handling of Melons
How can melons become contaminated?
Fresh melons and other fruits and vegetables do not naturally contain bacteria that can make you sick.
Because melons are grown close to the ground, their outer skin or rind can become contaminated in the field by soil, contaminated water, wild and domestic animals or improperly composted manure. Bacteria may also be transferred during and after harvest from handling, storing and transporting.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, including melons, can also become contaminated with disease-causing bacteria when they come into contact with raw food items such as meat, poultry, seafood and their juices. Such contaminations can happen at the grocery store, in the shopping cart, in the refrigerator or from counters and cutting boards at home.
In particular, cantaloupe is at greater risk of contamination because of its unique netted rind. The spaces between the netting can trap bacteria and make them harder to remove.
When choosing melons, make sure to choose ones that are firm, not bruised or damaged.
The melon can become contaminated through the bruises and damage to the hard outer rind or skin.
Foodborne Illness and Symptoms
Foodborne illness or food poisoning happens when a person gets sick from eating foods that are contaminated with microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites or viruses. Bacteria that has been linked to food poisoning and melons is Salmonella.
The most common symptoms of foodborne illness include:
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
It is estimated that there are approximately 11 million cases of food-related illnesses in Canada every year. Many of these illnesses could be prevented by following proper food handling and preparation techniques.
Safe Handling of Melons
One warning about listeria.
Most food-borne bacteria have a hard time in the fridge. They like it warmer 55 degrees upwards.
Not listeria!
Listeria is happy as a clam in your fridge, and given the right foods, etc, can multiply like wildfire. Even in the 40 degree temps of most fridges.
Anybody suspecting listeria contamination in their fridge would do well to unload it, unplug it, ans give it a good washing with soapy water and bleach.
Get some So. Dak. melons. They are the best.
Yikes, I didn't know that listeria could survive low temperatures. Thank you, DJF.
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