As the sixth listeriosis death in Australia linked to rockmelon was reported on Tuesday, the silence from cantaloupe growers, packers, retailers and regulators has been deafening.

Listeria in cantaloupe has happened before.

(A table of rockmelon-related outbreaks is available here.)

Here are some basic questions:

• was the farm prone to flooding and near any livestock operations;
• what soil amendments, like manure, were used;
• after harvest were the rockmelons placed in a dump tank;
• was the water in the dump tank regularly monitored for chlorine levels;
• did a proper handwashing program exist at the packing shed;
• were conveyor belts cleaned and tested;
• did condensation form on the ceiling of the packing shed;
• were transportation vehicles properly cooled and monitored;
• was the Listeria in whole cantaloupe or pre-cut; and,
• was the rockmelon stored at proper temperatures at retail?

I’m just spit-balling here, but these are basic questions that need to be answered before any dreams of regaining consumer confidence can be entertained.