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Indiana farm linked to contaminated cantaloupe also recalls watermelons

Melons
Abbie Fentress Swanson
/
Harvest Public Media

The Indiana farm that recalled cantaloupes linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has killed two and sickened 204 is now recalling its watermelons. Chamberlain Farms issued the voluntary recall because the melons could be contaminated with Salmonella Newport.

Foodborne illness is always a danger for farmers, grocery stores and customers alike.

Schnucks, the family–owned grocery with locations in five Midwestern states, was among the retailers carrying Chamberlain Farms watermelon up until Friday. After it got the withdrawal notice from the Owensville, Ind., farm, Schnucks pulled the cantaloupes from its stores.

“We will always err on the side of caution,” said company representative Lori Willis.

In the produce section of its Columbia, Mo., store Schnucks affixed a piece of paper to a bin containing watermelons from outside the recall area advising customers to return Chamberlain Farms melons for a refund. Schnucks also posted the statement on its website

Sometimes, labeling can help in a recall. Customers who bought melons at Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin Schnucks stores can tell if the watermelons came from Chamberlin Farms if they bear stickers saying “Indian Hills – Product of USA.” In Indiana Schnucks stores, however, the recalled watermelons do not have any stickers on them.

No watermelons had been returned to any Schnucks stores as of Monday evening, according to Willis.

This is the second recent high-profile food safety issue for Chamberlain Farms. In August, samples of Chamberlain Farms cantaloupe were linked through DNA to a strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has led to 78 hospitalizations in 22 states.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, those infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The bacteria cannot be washed off the melons as it may be on the inside and outside of the fruit

A call to the attorney for Chamberlain Farms for a comment on the watermelon recall was not immediately returned.

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