Cantaloupe likely source of fatal listeria outbreak in Colorado

 All the warnings about the usual listeria suspects – deli meats, soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk – apparently didn’t help contain the listeria outbreak in Colorado: cantaloupe has been identified as the "likely source" of what is now a multi-state listeria outbreak.

The Denver Post reports that nine listeria cases in Colorado have been linked to a multi-state outbreak, which includes potentially related cases in Texas and Nebraska, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Two people in Colorado died from listeriosis, but only one of those two cases has been linked to the multi-state outbreak.

All nine of Colorado’s confirmed linked cases consumed cantaloupe, the release said. No specific source of the contaminated product has been identified.

"While the investigation into the source of the listeria outbreak is continuing, it is prudent for people who are at high risk for listeria infection to avoid consumption of cantaloupe," said Dr. Chris Urbina, chief medical officer with the state health department.

A table of cantaloupe- (or rock melon) related outbreaks is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/cantaloupe-related-outbreaks.

This entry was posted in Listeria and tagged , , , by Douglas Powell. Bookmark the permalink.

About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time