Jensen Farms Frontera Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak 2nd Deadliest in History of U.S.

At present, 21 people have died and 109 sickened after eating cantaloupe produced at Jensen Farms Frontera; this is the 2nd deadliest outbreak since the Jalisco’s queso fresco and cotija cheese in 1985, which resulted in 29 deaths and 142 illnesses.  So far, the deadly Listeria tainted cantaloupes have impacted 24 states, and the list continues to grow.

Sickness related to the Jensen Farms cantaloupe became evident on July 31st of this year.  Since that time, 109 people have become infected and deaths have been reported in New York, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Texas and New Mexico. Additionally, one pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage after becoming ill.

Here is a listing of the states affected and how many people in those states who have been infected with Listeria to present:

Alabama (1), Arkansas(1), California (1), Colorado (32), Idaho (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (7), Maryland (1), Missouri (3), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (13), New York (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (11), Oregon (1),  South Dakota (1), Texas (16), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (3).

The FDA issued a press release on September 14, 2011 announcing the voluntary recall by Jensen Farms, and while the cantaloupes should no longer be on store shelves, more illnesses may be reported simply because of the time lapse between eating the cantaloupe and developing listeriosis, which can be as long as 2 months.

Consumers have been notified that cantaloupes that did not come from Jensen Farms are safe to eat; however, when unsure of the source do not eat cantaloupes.  Women who are pregnant, older adults and those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to listeriosis and the serious complications that can develop.

Brown Chiari is a prominent New York injury law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of those who have become ill after consuming contaminated foods.  Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.