Cantaloupe Recall is No Joke

Remember the old joke about melons not being able to marry because they “cantaloupe”? Well, nobody’s laughing about the juicy orange melons these days, thanks to the recent deadly listeria outbreak that has been traced to a melon farm in Colorado.

Jensen Farms voluntarily recalled its tainted melons, but if you’ve recently purchased a cantaloupe and it bears a label reading “Colorado Grown,” “Distributed by Frontera Produce,” “Jensenfarms.com,” or “Sweet Rocky Fords,” get rid of it, pronto. Then thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces it may have come in contact with.

Of course, not all store-bought melons have labels on them. If you have any doubt at all about where cantaloupes you’ve already purchased originated from, toss ‘em out. But if you’re outside of the states where the Jensen Farms melons have been distributed (Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming), and your melons are clearly labeled, you may feel comfortable enough to eat a purchased cantaloupe—after taking a few precautions.

Before slicing your melon, wash your hands and then wash the outside of the fruit with soap and hot running water. If the cantaloupe is carrying any bacteria, and you don’t wash it first, you’ll drag those germs through the melon with the very first cut. Cut the washed melon in half and scrape out the seeds. Then clean up thoroughly. Wash your hands, cutting board, and utensils so that you don’t transfer germs to other fruits and vegetables.

According to the CDC, there are typically three to four listeria outbreaks every year, but produce is rarely the culprit. And while some healthy adults can consume the listeria bacteria without getting sick, it can be deadly for older folks, and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, cramps, and muscle aches, often accompanied by an inability to speak.