Heeren Brothers recalls 5,000 Athena Cantaloupes due to listeria risk
Grand Rapids, Michigan produce company, Heeren Brothers Produce, announced the recall of approximately 5,400 cantaloupes because of the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Image/Scott Bauer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
The produce, Athena Cantaloupes, was distributed to small, independent grocers in Michigan July 23-26.
Heeren Brothers Produce became aware of this issue after the Food & Drug Administration conducted a routine sampling and found the cantaloupes contained the bacteria.
After receiving notice from the FDA, Heeren Brothers Produce immediately alerted retailers and requested that they remove the produce from their shelves. Heeren Brothers Produce has also contacted the supplier of the cantaloupes. The source of the potential issue is still under investigation. Heeren Brothers Produce is cooperating fully with the FDA.
Heeren Brothers Produce has not received any case of reported illnesses related to this product to date. The recall does not affect any other Heeren Brothers Produce products.
Listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is an important public health problem. The disease primarily affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, rarely, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
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