FDA Cites Dirty Equipment For Listeria Outbreak

The Food and Drug Administration says the deadly listeria outbreak in cantaloupe was probably caused by pools of water on the floor and old, hard-to-clean packing equipment at Jensen Farms.

The agency said Wednesday that contamination at the packing facility is likely to blame for the outbreak that killed 25 people in a dozen states. Investigators found positive listeria samples on equipment and fruit there. Of the 39 environmental samples collected from within the facility, 13 tested positive for Listeria. Cantaloupe collected from the firm’s cold storage during the inspection also tested positive for Listeria.

The FDA said Jensen Farms had recently purchased used equipment that was corroded and hard to clean. The agency said the way the cantaloupes were cooled after coming off the fields may have also contributed to listeria growth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak sickened 123 people, including those who died.

The tainted Colorado cantaloupes should be off store shelves by now. But the number of illnesses may continue to grow, as the symptoms of listeria can take up to two months to appear.

The CDC on Tuesday confirmed a sixth death in Colorado and a second in New York. Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming have also reported deaths.

Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., recalled the cantaloupes last month.

Colorado Senator Mark Udall released the following statement after an announcement from the FDA:

“My thoughts continue to be with those who lost loved ones or became ill as a result of this outbreak. Though it may not soothe the losses incurred, I believe the continued efforts to identify the underlying source of the outbreak can help us bring closure to this incident. It can also arm us with information and lessons learned that will help us improve prevention and response. I am positive that the relevant agencies and agriculture community will continue to collaborate to avoid future outbreaks that will make our food system stronger to protect human health.”

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm272372.htm#report