FYI - beware of certain cantaloupes in USA

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Five

Crowns Marketing Voluntarily Recalling Cantaloupes Packed under the Majesty

Label Because of a Potential Health Risk Due to Possible Contamination of

Salmonella

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 20, 2009 - BRAWLEY,

CA – Five Crowns Marketing, Brawley, California

is issuing this release today voluntarily recalling cantaloupes packed under

the Majesty label because of a potential health risk due to possible contamination

of Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date, and the company is

working with FDA to inform consumers of this recall.

Salmonella is an organism, which can cause

serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly

people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with

Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea,

vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumers who may have eaten this product and are

experiencing the above symptoms should consult their health care provider.

The recall comes after a Lab analysis

conducted by a consignee on a lot of cantaloupes packed by Five Crowns

Marketing on November 4, 2009, resulted in a confirmed positive for Salmonella.

Therefore, out of an abundance of caution Five Crowns Marketing is issuing this

warning and voluntary recall on all cantaloupes shipped from the same lot.

Five Crowns Marketing traced back the entire

lot of cantaloupes and is advising all customers who received the recalled cantaloupes.

Although based on harvest and shipping dates from November 4 through November

13, 2009 would indicate that the cantaloupes have now passed through the

distribution chain with no reported illnesses. The cantaloupes in the

identified lots were harvested and shipped to wholesalers, retailers, and food

service operators in the states of Alabama, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,

and Tennessee.

Cantaloupes were packed in various sizes with

and without individual label stickers. All cartons carry the label

"Majesty" and are further identified with lot numbers 198 2 or 198 3,

packed dates Nov 4, Nov 6, and Nov 10. Also those cantaloupes that contain

stickered labels are identified with the label "Majesty".

The health of all consumers is of the utmost

importance to Five Crowns Marketing. With that in mind, even though the

cantaloupes have passed through the distribution chain, we have taken immediate

action to ensure that all cantaloupes are accounted for and out of the supply

chain. We are working with all of our customers to insure that the cantaloupes

are no longer being distributed.

Consumers who have recently bought

cantaloupes should check with their place of purchase to determine if their

fruit is affected by the recall. Wholesale, retail, and food service entities

should contact Five Crown Marketing at 760-344-1390 between the hours of 8:00

a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST.

 

Patricia Squyres

(714) 299-6468

(714) 974-7055 Fax