L&M Companies, Inc. of Raleigh, NC is recalling one lot of whole cantaloupes because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date, and we are working with the FDA to inform consumers of this recall.
The whole cantaloupes were sold between May 10-15, 2009 in Walmart Supercenter Stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, and in the Walmart Supercenter Store located at 315 Furr Street in South Hill, Virginia. Consumers who have purchased whole cantaloupes from these Walmart stores during this time period should not consume them, and should destroy the product.
The recall comes after a cantaloupe at a small farm from which L&M Companies sources product tested positive for Salmonella. L&M Companies has ceased shipments from this farm, and the grower continues to investigate the cause of the problem.
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. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
“L&M Companies takes food safety seriously and we are committed to the shoppers who buy our products everyday. We are issuing this recall because we want to ensure that even the slightest risk to public health is minimized,” said Mike McGee, Vice President of Production and Grower Development.
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