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People vulnerable to infection, among them the elderly, infants and pregnant women, are being warned to avoid eating rockmelon due to that spherical cantaloupe being linked to a salmonella outbreak.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand issued the following interdiction:
State and territory food enforcement agencies are investigating cases of salmonella, possibly associated with rockmelon, following an increase in cases in a number of states in Australia.While we wait for further information, the best advice is that consumers, especially infants, the elderly, pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems, should not consume rockmelon.FSANZ will continue to work with the state and territory enforcement agencies and the Federal Department of Health and update its advice to consumers.
UPDATE
According to reports, the outbreak was sourced back to a Northern Territory supplier called Red Dirt Melons. Representatives from the Australian Melon Association (AMA) encouraged people to return to buying and eating the popular fruit.
According to reports, the outbreak was sourced back to a Northern Territory supplier called Red Dirt Melons. Representatives from the Australian Melon Association (AMA) encouraged people to return to buying and eating the popular fruit.
“It's been really difficult for Red Dirt, but they have co-operated with authorities to get the testing," AMA development manager Dianne Fullelove said. "The recall was a big blow, but it's more important to be safe; we don't want anyone getting sick. But now, Red Dirt's fruit has been cleared from the market. The fruit that shoppers are seeing on the shelves is from other farms."
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