The FDA says the outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to three farms in Indiana is over, but the agency has not named the farms.
The melon farms were also linked to at least four previous outbreaks, including one in 2022. Both cantaloupe and watermelon are implicated in this year’s outbreak. The FDA did not name the farms linked to the previous outbreaks, but a report on the 2022 outbreak referenced Knox and Gibson Counties of Indiana. In the 2022 outbreak, 87 people were sickened, and 32 were admitted to hospitals.
“This year’s findings indicate continued presence of food safety concerns linked to melons from the Southwest Indiana growing region,” according to the Oct. 12 outbreak notice from the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA has closed its investigation into the outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assisted the FDA in the outbreak investigation and found that all 11 confirmed outbreak patients ate watermelon and cantaloupe before becoming sick. The patients were clustered in the Midwest, according to the CDC.
Some likely, many more patients went unidentified because some people do not seek medical attention, and some who do are not explicitly tested to diagnose Salmonella infection. Generally, there are about 30 patients for every one confirmed case of Salmonella infection, according to CDC data.
“Currently, there is no risk to the public, as all product (from the specific growing region) is no longer on the market,” the FDA notice says.
The FDA collected samples for analysis during its investigation. Salmonella in the samples from the Indiana farms matched the strain of the pathogen found in the confirmed outbreak patients.
“Additionally, samples collected from a farm of interest and surrounding areas were reported as positive for Salmonella and matched strains that have caused previous outbreaks, including those discussed in the 2022 Outbreak Investigation Report,” the FDA reported.
For more information: foodsafetynews.com