September 13, 2012
A Faison, North Carolina, farm recently announced through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a recall on cantaloupes and honeydew melons that were grown and packaged at the facility after regulators found them to be contaminated with bacteria that could be potentially hazardous to humans if consumed. According to a press release from the agency, more than 188,000 melons were affected by the contamination.
During routine safety testing at the facility by the FDA, researchers discovered blooms of Listeria monocytogene on products and surfaces at the farm due to unsanitary conditions. The bacteria can lead to the deadly disease, Listeria, which claimed 30 lives and sickened hundreds last summer in an outbreak of foodborne illness that spread across the country.
Officials say that the melons were shipped to eleven states along the East Coast and can be identified by a Birch Farms or Cottle Strawberry, Inc. sticker that is labeled Caribbean Gold with a PLU# 4319. The agency is requesting that anyone in possession of an affected melon dispose of it immediately. While no cases of illness have been reported in connection with the recall, anyone who becomes sick from consuming contaminated melon is instructed to contact the FDA.
The North Carolina personal injury lawyers with HensonFuerst say it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights before talking about your illness with any organization.