Outbreaks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling the recent listeria cantaloupe epidemic "the deadliest known outbreak of foodborne illness in the USA in more than 25 years." Thus far, 23 people have died from the contaminated fruit and 116 have become ill. While the listeria-infected melons should no longer be in stores (cantaloupe has a two week shelf live and was recalled Sept 14), do note that the grower responsible for this pandemic is Rocky Ford-brand cantaloupes sold by Jensen Farms near Holly, Colorado. [USA Today]