Papayas From Mexico Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of 62 Salmonella Uganda illnesses potentially linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico. These illnesses have been reported in eight states: Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.

The FDA is increasing import screening for whole, fresh papayas and will continue to investigate the cause and source of the outbreak, as well as the distribution of products. Preliminary analysis of product import records indicates that the whole, fresh papayas that made people sick in this outbreak were from Mexico. As this outbreak investigation continues, the FDA will work with its Mexican food safety regulatory counterparts to better define this outbreak. Additionally, the FDA will update this advisory as more information becomes available.

CDC is advising that consumers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island not eat any whole, fresh papayas from Mexico and should throw them away. Retailers, restaurants and other food service providers in those states should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico until more is known about this outbreak. Of the 62 illnesses, 60 have been reported in six states in the Northeast. One patient from Florida who was reported ill had traveled to Connecticut before becoming ill. Another patient from Texas was also reported ill, and at this time additional information about this patient is being collected. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

The FDA strongly advises importers, suppliers and distributors, as well as restaurants, retailers and other foodservice providers from all states to hold whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico. This hold is intended to prevent or limit further distribution of potentially contaminated papayas that may already be in the supply chain until more information on the potential source of papayas linked to the outbreak becomes available. Any product that is held beyond expiration date should be discarded.

Read the full update.

Food safety