Do Not Try To Wash The Cantaloupe

The listeria outbreak from cantaloupes has caused at least 72 illnesses and up to 16 deaths so far. Those numbers are expected to rise since the time it takes to show symptoms can be a month or longer. Can you imagine trying to recall what you ate a month ago?

I know listeria by its connection with hot dogs and deli meats. Never heard it linked to produce. An unusual feature is that it grows well in the cold temperatures that impede the growth of other organisms.

As usual, Bill Marler has been furiously updating. This pronouncement from his blog this morning deserves attention:

"And, for the argument that the sick and dead should have washed away the listeria, the FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled cantaloupes and to throw them away. In Fact, the FDA says:

Do not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the cantaloupe as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh."

________Photo of workers in field of rotting cantaloupes on Jensen Farm in Colorado, from the Guardian.