Cantaloupe contamination likely occurred in production fields

FDA released an environmental impact assessment report on a multi-state salmonellosis outbreak in summer of 2012 linked to contaminated cantaloupe. The report says initial contamination likely occurred in production fields before being spread by operations and practices in the packinghouse. Contamination also likely proliferated during storage and transport to market. Recommended practices for fruit and vegetable producers can be found in FDA and USDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,” FDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh Cantaloupe,” and FDA’s “Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Melons; Draft Guidance.”