Florida-based Ayco Farms first issued the recall alert for its whole cantaloupes last month, covering 8,300 cartons each containing between six and 12 melons. The cantaloupes were sold at grocery stores in California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania between December 12 and January 16, with a shelf life of around 30 days, and none were sold abroad or to government agencies. None of the recalled cantaloupes are believed to still be on store shelves, and no illnesses or deaths have been reported linked to this recall.
In previous cases, health officials have urged people not to consume recalled melons and to throw them out immediately, and customers have been urged to disinfect any surfaces that the cantaloupes came into contact with. Ayco Farms sent a formal notification to customers on March 24, and the recall includes specific LOT numbers, with the cantaloupes wrapped in food-safe plastic. It was not clear what triggered the recall, but it may be linked to a test or inspection that revealed the potential presence of salmonella, leaving questions about how many cantaloupes were actually sold to consumers and the current status of the FDA's investigation.