Our Salmonella lawyers are investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis in Kentucky linked to cantaloupe grown in Indiana. Cantaloupes tested by the Kentucky Department of Public Health were contaminated with the same strain of Salmonella associated with the statewide outbreak that has sickened at least 50 people, killing 2 of them.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, national food safety lawyer, heads up our Salmonella litigation team. “It is mind boggling how cantaloupe growers continue to ignore basic food safety measures to prevent their cantaloupe from being contaminated with Salmonella and other dangerous pathogens,” said Pritzker, who can be contacted for a free consultation here.
The cantaloupe connection was first made during interviews with salmonellosis victims, who told public health officials that they had eaten cantaloupe. Lab testing confirmed the connection.
The contaminated cantaloupe were grown in southwestern Indiana and purchased in Kentucky. This means that lawsuits against the grower can be filed in Kentucky or Indiana. Contact our attorneys regarding where to sue the grower, distributors and possibly retailers.
Salmonellosis cases caused by the outbreak strain have also been reported in other states. In addition, investigation is also continuing into other clusters of salmonella cases in Kentucky, which may be linked to cantaloupe or watermelon consumption.
The Kentucky Department of Public Health is warning consumers to avoid eating cantaloupes from southwestern Indiana, especially if they are at heightened risk for complications from salmonella infection.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with state health departments and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate the ongoing outbreak, including tracing the source of the affected melons and shipments of melons that may have been contaminated. A likely source of the outbreak is cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana region and distributed to stores in Kentucky and other states.
Salmonella can cause serious illness and death.