The recent outbreak of listeria in Colorado cantaloupes has claimed the lives of 21 people in 23 states across the country, sickened 109 people, and caused one miscarriage, according to a new CDC report. It’s now the worst foodborne illness outbreak since 1998, when tainted hotdogs killed 21 people and sickened 100. Jensen Farms of Colorado recalled millions of cantaloupes last month after they were found to contain listeria, and last week Fruit Fresh Up recalled 4,800 packages of cut fruit that may be contaminated. Officials from the CDC and FDA say cantaloupes that aren’t labeled, “Colorado Grown,” ”Distributed by Frontera Produce,” ”Jensenfarms.com” or “Sweet Rocky Fords,” are safe to eat. Since Jensen Farms didn’t label all of its fruit with a sticker, you may want to toss any cantaloupes of unclear origin.
Image via Viktar Malyshchyts/Shutterstock.