Pre-Cut Melon Salmonella Outbreak Expands

By Jory Lange

The pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak that has swept through Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri is growing. The CDC updated its Food Safety Alert on the outbreak today to reflect that there are now 117 confirmed Salmonella cases in 10 states linked to this outbreak. 32 people have been hospitalized.

Here’s a breakdown of this Salmonella outbreak by state: There are 32 confirmed Salmonella cases in Ohio, 23 confirmed Salmonella cases in Indiana, 22 confirmed Salmonella cases in Michigan, 21 confirmed Salmonella cases in Kentucky, 7 confirmed Salmonella cases in Illinois, 7 confirmed Salmonella cases in Missouri, 3 confirmed Salmonella cases in Minnesota, and 1 confirmed Salmonella case each in Alabama, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

In the first reported case, Salmonella symptoms began on March 4, 2019. In the most recently reported case, Salmonella symptoms began on April 9, 2019. In the vast majority of reported cases, Salmonella symptoms began between March 14, 2019 and April 9, 2019. Illnesses beginning on or after April 13, 2019 may not yet have been reported to the CDC.

Caito Foods has recalled pre-cut melons produced at its Indianapolis, Indiana facility. The melons were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers.