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Rockmelon warning after spike in cases of rare salmonella strain across Australia NT rockmelon farm linked to nationwide salmonella outbreak
(about 3 hours later)
Pregnant women and other vulnerable groups in Australia are being warned against eating rockmelon after a spike in cases of salmonella was tentatively linked to the fruit. A Northern Territory rockmelon farm has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has affected more than 80 people across Australia.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said in a statement on Tuesday it was investigating an increase in salmonella cases across Australia “possibly associated” with the fruit. South Australian health authorities have confirmed that Salmonella had been detected on rockmelons supplied by the company, Red Dirt, based in Katherine, southeast of Darwin.
It is working with state and territory enforcement agencies and the federal Department of Health. The NSW Food Authority said in a statement on Wednesday it was working with the local NT health agency and the company to remove the fruit from the supply chain in a trade-level recall. Red Dirt has said it will undertake this recall.
In the meantime it has advised pregnant women, infants, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems to avoid the fruit. It advised that rockmelons available for purchase were not implicated in the outbreak, but those already in homes or of uncertain origin should not be eaten.
FSANZ has been contacted by Guardian Australia for comment. Pregnant women, infants, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems were those most at risk.
The Australian Melon Association said on Wednesday up to 80 people, most in the greater Sydney metropolitan area, had been affected by the “exceedingly rare” Hvittingfoss strain of salmonella in the past few weeks. Food Standards Australia New Zealand, which is coordinating the states and territories’ investigation, told Guardian Australia it understood that Red Dirt was the only grower linked to the spike.
A spike in cases of the rare Hvittingfoss strain of Salmonella has been reported across a number of Australian states over the past weeks.
SA Health says 86 cases of Salmonella have been reported nationally, including 43 in NSW. 20 had been reported in SA since late June; on average, the state sees about two cases of Salmonella Hvittingfoss each year.
The Australian Melon Association said up to 80 people, most in the greater Sydney metropolitan area, had been affected, and that “other types of melons are not implicated”.
Related: Number of salmonella cases in Victoria linked to lettuce doubles to reach 54Related: Number of salmonella cases in Victoria linked to lettuce doubles to reach 54
It said rockmelons were the most likely source of the contamination, and “other types of melons are not implicated”. (Rockmelons are also known as cantaloupes.) Rockmelons – also known as cantaloupes – have previously been linked to salmonella, with 50 cases linked to the Saintpaul strain reported in New South Wales in 2006.
“We want more details so consumers can find out which parts of Australia are not impacted,” spokeswoman Dianne Fullelove told AAP.
“We would like to have our supply chain moving. At the moment it’s virtually stopped.”
The fruit has previously been linked to salmonella, with 50 cases linked to the Saintpaul strain reported in New South Wales in 2006.
In America in 2011, rockmelon contaminated with listeria was linked to more than 20 deaths.In America in 2011, rockmelon contaminated with listeria was linked to more than 20 deaths.
According to the NSW Food Authority, rockmelons can become contaminated with salmonella through contaminated water, fertiliser, contact with pests or animals or insufficient cleaning prior to sale. According to the NSW Food Authority, rockmelons can become contaminated with salmonella through contaminated water, fertiliser, contact with pests or animals or insufficient cleaning prior to sale
It advised that whole and sliced rockmelons can cause food poisoning.
The risk can be minimised by purchasing only melons that are unbruised and undamaged. Fresh-cut produce should be kept refrigerated or surrounded by ice within two hours of peeling or cutting produce.The risk can be minimised by purchasing only melons that are unbruised and undamaged. Fresh-cut produce should be kept refrigerated or surrounded by ice within two hours of peeling or cutting produce.
The NSW Food Authority also recommends washing rockmelons immediately before eating.The NSW Food Authority also recommends washing rockmelons immediately before eating.