The Jensens called the outbreak a "terrible accident" after their court appearance, the Associated Press news agency reported. A spokesman for the federal prosecutors told the Associated Press they levelled the "most serious" charges they could, as stricter felony counts would required proof the contamination was intentional. A US Food and Drug Administration inquiry found the Jensens installed a new cantaloupe cleaning system - designed to clean potatoes - in The system included a chlorine spray meant to remove bacteria, which was never used.
In the past, produce was not often identified as a source, but sprouts caused an outbreak in , and precut celery caused an outbreak in Several ill persons remembered the type of cantaloupes they had eaten and said they were Rocky Ford cantaloupes, which are grown in the Rocky Ford region of southeastern Colorado.
Source tracing of the cantaloupes that ill persons ate indicated that they came from Jensen Farms, and were marketed as being from the Rocky Ford region. These cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through September 10 to at least 24 states External , with possible further distribution. Colorado state officials determined that these cantaloupes came from Jensen Farms.
FDA worked closely with CDC, the firms involved, and public health authorities in states where illnesses occurred to determine the cause of contamination. Cantaloupes from other farms were not linked to this outbreak. As of 5pm EDT on September 20, , a total of 55 persons infected with the 4 outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 14 states.
All illnesses started on or after August 4, A total of 35 persons infected with the outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 10 states. CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states, including Colorado, and the U. Investigators are using DNA analysis of Listeria isolated from patients to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak.
Investigators are using data from PulseNet , the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. A total of 15 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 4 states.
All illnesses started on or after August 15, The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows: Colorado 11 , Nebraska 1 , Oklahoma 1 , and Texas 2. Listeriosis illnesses in several other states are currently being investigated by state and local health departments to determine if these illnesses are part of this outbreak.
Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after August 15, Ages range from 38 to 96 years, with a median age of 84 years old. Most ill persons are over 60 years old or have health conditions that weaken the immune system.
Seventy-three percent of ill persons are female. Illnesses that occurred after August 26, , might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. About cases of Listeria infection are diagnosed each year in the United States, along with 3 or 4 outbreaks of Listeria -associated foodborne illness. The typical foods that cause these outbreaks have been deli meats, hot dogs, and Mexican-style soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk.
Produce is not often identified as a source, but sprouts caused an outbreak in , and celery caused an outbreak in Ongoing collaborative investigations by local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate the likely source of the outbreak is a type of cantaloupe, called Rocky Ford cantaloupes, which are grown in the Rocky Ford region of southeastern Colorado. These cantaloupes were harvested in August and September, distributed widely in the United States, and are currently available in grocery stores.
Ill persons were interviewed about exposures during the month before becoming ill; investigators compared their responses to persons with listeriosis reported through the CDC Listeria Initiative , whose illnesses were not part of this outbreak. Preliminary results strongly suggest that illnesses are linked to consumption of cantaloupes. Several ill persons who remembered the type of cantaloupe said they were Rocky Ford cantaloupes.
Product traceback information indicated these cantaloupes were marketed as cantaloupes harvested in the Rocky Ford region. Rombola Family Farms has made line modifications to improve cleaning, increased cleaning and sanitizing of the packing line environment and sanitizer concentration during washing of melons.
Similarly, the concentration of chlorine in the sanitizer wash step was increased to ppm. Black sponge material on the packing table has been removed and replaced with more suitable material. To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here. We are posting a report summarizing the results of visits to cantaloupe packinghouses and the research will be presented at the upcoming International Association for Food Protection meeting.
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