Imported Papayas Cause Widespread Illness

So far, 97 people in 23 states have developed a food-borne illness that has been linked to Mexican papayas. This outbreak has led to 10 hospitalizations but no deaths.  The two states hit hardest by the outbreak were Texas, with 25 victims, and Illinois, with 17 cases.

The source of the contamination has been traced to Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen Texas the Company is recalling all papayas because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Agona.  Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples collected at Agromod Produce and at the U.S. border headed for the Agromod facility. Distribution of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the problem. 

The brand names of the papayas involved in the recall are Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious. For information on how to identify these papayas, go to the FDA’s press release on this recall by clicking here.  Consumers who have purchased any papayas that are part of this recall should return them to the place of purchase or discard them. 

Agromod Produce states on its website that it distributes papayas throughout the U.S. and Canada, and it claims to be the world’s largest grower of maradol papaya. These papayas are grown in three Mexican states: Chiapas, Yucatan, and San Luis Potosi.

Produce that is eaten uncooked is one of the main causes of food-borne illness.  Furthermore, according to the FDA, imported produce is 3 times more likely to be contaminated with salmonella and shigella than produce grown in the U.S.  The website Green Answers reports the following:  “In 2007, the amount of imported fruit consumed in the United States accounted for 22.3% of all fresh fruit.  This statistic has doubled since 1993, when only 10.1% of all fresh fruit consumed by Americans was imported.”

The new  FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, (signed by President Obama on January 4, 2011)  if adequately funded by  Congress, may give the U.S. food supply greater protection, especially if there is an increase in the number of inspectors and if  a significant number of facilities in other countries are inspected.

Is salmonella worth worrying about?  According to the International Business Times, “Salmonella is the most common U.S. food-borne illness and continues to strike the country as often as it did 15 years ago….In 2010, the illness caused nearly 2,300 hospitalizations and 23 deaths.” Healthy people infected with salmonella often develop some or all of these symptoms: fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The condition usually runs its course within a few days.  But salmonella can cause more serious illnesses if it gets into  the bloodstream. Also, for young children, frail or elderly people, and individuals with a weakened immune system, the illness can be quite serious, even fatal.

Source(s):

FDA “Agromod Produce, Inc. Recalls Papaya Because of Possible Health Risk”
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm264854.htm

International Business Times Business and Health section  “FDA Warning: Mexican Papayas Recalled, Linked to Salmonella Poisoning”
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/186408/20110725/fda-warning-mexican-papayas-recalled-salmonella-poisoning.htm

Chicago Tribune “Salmonella outbreak linked to papayas from Mexico”
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-25/news/chi-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-papayas-from-mexico-20110725_1_salmonella-outbreak-agona-mexican-states

GreenAnswers.com “Questions/Answers”
http://greenanswers.com/q/208190/food-agriculture/farming-ranching/crops/how-much-our-fruit-do-we-import