Second firm pulls cantaloupe

Spokane Produce has issued a recall for certain whole cantaloupe, following a U.S. Food and Drug Administration alert last week that cantaloupe from a Honduran company could be linked to a salmonella outbreak.

At least 50 people in 16 states have become ill from eating cantaloupe from the company, Agropecuaria Mentelibano. Health officials on Sunday announced that at least two Spokane residents had fallen ill. They were hospitalized and recovered.

The Spokane Produce recall started Saturday and more than 150 cases of cantaloupe had been returned to the company by Wednesday, company President Craig Higashi said in a press release. They were distributed under the brands Mike’s Melons and Mayan Pride, showing Produce of Honduras on the cartons.

“All (potentially tainted cantaloupe) that was in any local stores has been removed, to the best of our knowledge,” Higashi reported.

Charlie’s Produce in Spokane also initiated a recall on Sunday, for whole as well as cut cantaloupe in packages with a use-by date of March 7 through March 29.

Symptoms of food-borne salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.