Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Papaya from Mexico

The FDA is working with Agromod Produce, Inc. to determine if previous shipments of potentially contaminated papaya could still be in U.S. commerce.

Jul 26 2011 --- The FDA is taking steps to protect the public following the identification of Salmonella Agona in Agromod Produce, Inc.’s supply of fresh papayas. The FDA is advising consumers not to eat papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc. The company is voluntarily recalling the product. The papayas were imported from Mexico, and may be linked to the reported cases of Salmonella Agona. Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples: one collected at the Agromod Produce, Inc. location in McAllen, Texas, and one collected at the U.S. border destined for Agromod Produce, Inc. The shipments that tested positive with the outbreak strain were not distributed in the U.S.

The FDA is working with Agromod Produce, Inc. to determine if previous shipments of potentially contaminated papaya could still be in U.S. commerce.
 
Agromod Produce, Inc. is voluntarily recalling all papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011.
 
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, some individuals may require hospitalization from severe diarrhea. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites. It can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from Salmonella infection.
 
The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from Salmonella infection. The bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in these vulnerable populations. Most healthy individuals recover from Salmonella infections within four to seven days without treatment.