Simply Fresh Fruit Announces Nationwide Recall of Some Fresh Cut Fruit Products Containing Cantaloupe Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination (March 27)

More Recalled Cantaloupes

CONTACT: SIMPLY FRESH FRUIT (323) 586-0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — MARCH 27, 2008 — SIMPLY FRESH FRUIT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA IS RECALLING SELECTED FRESH CUT FRUIT PRODUCTS WHICH MAY CONTAIN CANTALOUPE WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA.  ON MARCH 26, 2008, SIMPLY FRESH WAS REQUESTED BY ITS SUPPLIER, TROPIFRESH, INC TO RECALL PRODUCTS PRODUCED WITH CANTALOUPE FROM AGROPECUARIA MONTELIBANO.  SIMPLY FRESH HAD BEGUN TO RECOVER THIS PRODUCT EARLIER, ON MARCH 24, BASED ON A NOTICE PUBLISHED BY THE U.S. FDA.

THE PRODUCTS BEING RECALLED INCLUDE: SIMPLY FRESH FRUIT BRAND FOOD SERVICE FRUIT MIX IN SYRUP PRODUCTS DATED “SELL BY 4 – 18 08” OR EARLIER, FOOD SERVICE CANTALOUPE CHUNKS IN SYRUP PRODUCTS DATED “SELL BY 4 – 08 8” OR EARLIER, AND RETAIL AND CLUB STORE SIMPLY FRESH, FRESH  CUT FRUIT BRAND CONTAINING CANTALOUPE DATED “SELL BY 3 – 29 8”OR EARLIER.  RETAIL AND CLUB STORE PRODUCTS INVOLVED WERE REMOVED FROM SALE PRIOR TO MONDAY, MARCH 24.  FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTORS WHO SELL THEIR OWN BRAND, HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND ARE RECALLING THE PRODUCTS INVOLVED.  FOODSERVICE PRODUCTS ARE PACKED IN PLASTIC PAILS OR JARS, AND RETAIL PRODUCTS ARE PACKED IN PLASTIC TRAYS.

SYMPTOMS OF FOOD BORNE SALMONELLA INFECTION INCLUDE NAUSEA, VOMITING, FEVER, DIARRHEA, AND ABDOMINAL CRAMPS. IN PERSONS WITH POOR HEALTH OR WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, SALMONELLA CAN INVADE THE BLOODSTREAM AND CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING INFECTIONS.

WE ARE UNAWARE TO DATE OF ANY ILLNESSES THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PRODUCTS CONTAINING CANTALOUPE, SOLD BY SIMPLY FRESH FRUIT, OR ITS DISTRIBUTORS.

FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS WHO HAVE ANY OF THE PRODUCTS INVOLVED SHOULD CONTACT THEIR SUPPLIER FOR DISPOSITION INSTRUCTIONS.  CONSUMERS WITH QUESTIONS MAY CONTACT SIMPLY FRESH FRUIT AT (323) 586-0000.