As of November 24, 2023, a fatal foodborne outbreak of salmonellosis linked to cantaloupes has caused 99 illnesses across 32 states in the U.S., and 63 illnesses across five provinces in Canada. A total of three patients have died.

The outbreak strain is Salmonella Sundsvall.

States with outbreak cases include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Implicated Canadian provinces include British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis shows that clinical isolates from the sickened people in Canada are genetically related to patients in the U.S. Canada has linked illnesses to imported cantaloupes sold under the label “Malichita.”

The most recent reported onset of illness in the U.S. was November 6, 2023. Based on epidemiological data collected by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15 of 29 cases report exposure to cantaloupe.

An extensive recall of whole cantaloupes and pre-cut fruit and cantaloupes are in effect, as follows:

Whole Cantaloupes

  • Has a sticker that says “Malichita” or “Rudy,” with the number “4050” and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”
  • The firms Trufresh, Crown Jewels, and Pacific Trellis have initiated voluntary recalls.

Vinyard Brand Pre-Cut Cantaloupes

  • Includes cantaloupe cubes, melon medleys, and fruit medleys
  • Sold in Oklahoma stores between October 30 and November 10, 2023
  • Most have a yellow label with “Vinyard,” and some have a red label with “Fresh”
  • The full list of recalled products can be viewed here.

ALDI Whole Cantaloupe and Pre-Cut Fruit Products

  • Includes whole cantaloupes, cantaloupe chunks in clamshell packaging, and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging
  • Best-by dates between October 27 and October 31, 2023
  • Sold in ALDI stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin
  • The full list of recalled products can be viewed here.

Freshness Guaranteed Brand and Racetrac Brand Pre-Cut Cantaloupes

  • Includes cantaloupe chunks, seasonal blend, melon mixes, and fruit mixes
  • Packed in clear square or round plastic containers
  • Best-by dates between November 7–November 12, 2023
  • Sold in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
  • The full list of recalled products can be viewed here.

The investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, Canadian partners, and U.S. state and local partners is ongoing.

Update, December 1, 2023: As of December 1, there are a total of 117 illnesses, 61 hospitalizations, and two deaths in the U.S. associated with the outbreak. In Canada, there has not yet been an update to the number and outcomes of outbreak cases. FDA has also updated the list of recalled products containing cantaloupe:

  • KwikTrip 6 ounce (oz.) mixed fruit cup, 6 oz. cantaloupe cup, and 16 oz. fruit tray distributed to Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, and Tobacco Outlet Plus convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa Michigan, Illinois, and South Dakota. See the recall announcement here.
  • Bix Produce 5.75 oz. Created Fresh! cantaloupe Grab N’ Go fruit cups, Created Fresh! Grab N’ Go mixed fruit cups, and Jack and Olive mixed fruit cups sold in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. See the recall announcement here.
  • GHGA pre-cut products containing cantaloupe branded as Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joes, and unbranded products sold at Kroger. Recalled products were distributed to Kroger stores in Alabama and Georgia; Sprout’s Farmers Market stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina; and Trader Joe’s stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee (see recall for lot codes and “sell-by” dates). See the recall announcement here.

Update, December 7, 2023: TGD Cuts LLC has initiated a voluntary recall of specific fresh-cut fruit cup, clamshell, and tray products listed in the recall announcement on FDA's website, which can be found here. The recall includes fresh-cut fruit cup, clamshell and tray products containing cantaloupe with use-by dates of November 2–24, 2023. Products were distributed to retail and foodservice locations in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Update, December 8, 2023: A total of 230 people across 38 U.S. states have been sickened, 96 have been hospitalized, and three have died. In Canada, there have been 129 confirmed cases of illness, 44 hospitalizations, and five fatalities.

Update, December 13, 2023: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released a list of 28 products containing cantaloupe that have been recalled. In Canada, the number of cases in the outbreak is 129, including 44 hospitalizations and five deaths. In the U.S., 230 people have been sickened, 96 have been hospitalized, and three have died, across 38 states.

Update, December 18, 2023: CDC has reported 302 outbreak cases from 42 states, with a latest onset date of November 28, 2023. Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 107 of 145 cases report exposure to cantaloupe and 56 people specifically report eating pre-cut cantaloupe. Additionally, Stop and Shop has initiated a recall of TruFresh cantaloupe that was purchased between the dates of October 23–November 11, 2023. 

Update, January 22, 2024: As of January 19, 2024, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 407 illnesses in 44 states. There has been a total of 158 hospitalizations and 6 deaths associated with this incident. The last illness onset was December 25, 2023.

As part of this investigation, FDA and industry partners worked together to collect and analyze samples of cantaloupe. Two of the samples were positive for Salmonella Sundsvall, and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Salmonella found in isolates associated with these two samples matched the same strain of Salmonella found in ill people. One isolate tested positive for Salmonella Newport; however, it was not associated with the outbreak.