Highest risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Malichita Fresh Cantaloupe recall: Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Recall published 2+ years ago

Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Malichita Other food products — recalled other food productsMalichita Other food products — recalled other food products (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

This recall is about Salmonella, so the risk is not only in eating the product — it is in everything the package touched on the way to your kitchen.

What the notice says: Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
November 8, 2023
Risk level
Highest risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Malichita
Product type
Other food products
Distribution
Arizona, California
Reports of harm
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the subject cantaloupes, to date.

Products covered by this recall

Fresh Cantaloupe

What the company announced

SOFIA PRODUCE, LLC, of Nogales, Arizona which does business under the name “Trufresh” (“Trufresh”) is recalling all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, sold under the following sales order numbers between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella :

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The Cantaloupes were distributed directly to the following States in the United States: Arizona, California. Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and Canada. The Cantaloupes would have reached consumers through retail produce markets which may be located in states other than those listed above.

The Cantaloupes are packaged in cardboard containers bearing the “Malichita” Label (picture attached). The cantaloupes also have an individual PLU sticker placed upon each cantaloupe in the form of the attached picture. As shown in the picture, the PLU sticker has a top half which is white which has the word “Malichita” written in script in black letters. The bottom of the PLU sticker is black and has the number “4050” prominently displayed in white letters together with the words “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”. This label will identify individual Malichita cantaloupes purchased by consumers.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the subject cantaloupes, to date.

Trufresh is performing this recall after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced a similar recall of cantaloupes packaged with the same Malichita label and bearing the same PLU due to possible salmonella contamination for cantaloupes sold to Fruits et Légumes Gaétan Bono. The Canadian Food inspection Agency Announcement can be found here: https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/malichita-brand-cantaloupes-recalled-due-salmonella . Trufresh’s investigation has revealed that the above-listed order numbers may have been associated with the cantaloupes sold to Fruits et Légumes Gaétan Bono.

Consumers should take the following actions:

Check to see if you have recalled products

Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products

Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the recalled product are advised to contact their retailer.

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider

Information for Buyers:

Trufresh is contacting each of the individual buyers under the foregoing orders to advise them of the recall. If the buyers associated with the above sales order numbers have not already been contacted by Trufresh, they should contact Trufresh at the number below.

Buyers associated with the above sales order numbers should remove any remaining product from their sales inventory.

The Buyers should then dispose of the product and retain their records of disposal.

Order Numbers: 0128556, 0128624, 0128630, 0128632, 0128640, 0128643, 0128644, 0128646, 0128648, 0128651, -0128656, 0128669, 0128680, 0128682, 0128683, 0128700, 0225200, 0225201, 0225206, 0225214, 0225219, 0225222, 0225226, 0225227, 0225228, 0419611, 0419629, 0419630, 0419636, 0419671, 0419688, 0419693, 0419696, 0419697, 0419704, 0419710, 0419718, 0419772, 0516255, 0516268, 0516271, 0516279, 0516301, 0612143, 0612144, 0612148, 0612154, 0612156, 0612158, 0612171, 0612190, 0612191, 0612197, 0612198, 0612209, 0612225

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products may obtain additional information by contacting Rafael Roiz, Tru Fresh’s representative Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time at (520) 394-7370.

Expanded Press Release 2

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 1 code you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Establishment number

Inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label.

  • 4050

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Salmonella

Malichita — This recall is about Salmonella, so the risk is not only in eating the product — it is in everything the package touched on the way to your kitchen.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.
  3. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pack, and wash any dish, utensil or surface it touched in hot soapy water.
  4. If you repackaged or froze it, check the freezer too. Salmonella is not killed by freezing.

How to get your money back

Food recalls carry a full refund, and in the United States you usually do not need the receipt or the packaging.

  • Take the product, or your photo of the label, to the customer service desk of the store where you bought it. Nearly every national grocer refunds recalled food on the spot.
  • Bought it online? Open the order in your account and use the refund option; marketplace sellers are required to honour a federal recall.
  • If the store refuses, contact the recalling company using the details on this page. The firm, not the shop, carries the cost of a recall.
  • If you have a loyalty card, the retailer can look the purchase up in your history — Kroger, Costco and Walmart all do this routinely.

Remedy named in the notice: The Buyers should then dispose of the product and retain their records of disposal.

Company contact: Sofia Produce, LLC dba Trufresh — Consumers: Rafael Roiz, Tru Fresh’s representative, 520-394-7370

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Malichita other food products recalled?

Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: establishment number 4050. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: The Buyers should then dispose of the product and retain their records of disposal.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Arizona, California.

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