Cantaloupe is particularly susceptible to contamination because it grows on the ground, where it can come into contact with bacteria from animal feces harbored in soil or rainwater runoff. However, like any fruit or vegetable, it can also pick up pathogens during harvest, handling or preparation.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=xYE1ePgCkSg
How does Salmonella get in cantaloupe?
Sources of contamination
Cantaloupes may become contaminated before harvest, during harvesting, packing, and storage, and during processing or preparation of cut products (Table 2).
Is there Salmonella in cantaloupe?
Still, you should take food safety precautions when preparing any produce—especially cantaloupe, because its rough rind can trap salmonella and some other types of harmful bacteria, according to the FDA.
How does Salmonella get in fruit?
Salmonella can pass from human or animal feces to soil, fruits, vegetables, water, or other surfaces.
How does listeria get into cantaloupe?
Listeria is a bacteria commonly found in water and soil. Officials speculate that the cantaloupes were contaminated by irrigation water or a heavy rainstorm. The cantaloupe’s textured skin can trap and hold bacteria it picks up during growing, harvesting, packing, storage, transport, and distribution.
Should you wash cantaloupe?
It’s also why the CDC recommends that you rinse your fruits and vegetables before eating them. Yes, this includes melons like cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons. As the CDC confirms, even when you’re not consuming the peel or rind, fruit can still be contaminated if not rinsed properly.
Can melons carry Salmonella?
Melons have caused other outbreaks with several types of bacteria, said Taran Skjerdal, a researcher at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. “In this outbreak, it is Salmonella. In other countries, there have been major outbreaks of Listeria and several other foodborne pathogens.
Are cantaloupes safe to eat?
Simply cube, scoop, or slice it for a snack or healthy dessert. Add it to a salad. Sprinkle pieces of cantaloupe into any salad for a sweet touch. In fruit salads, it mixes well with berries, mangos, and avocados.
Should you refrigerate uncut cantaloupe?
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Should cantaloupe be kept in the fridge?
Melon: Melons, including watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, should be kept at room temperature until you cut into them to ensure they have the best flavor. Once they’ve been cut into, store them in the refrigerator and be sure to eat within four days.
How do foods get contaminated with Salmonella?
Some fresh produce, particularly imported varieties, may be irrigated in the field or washed during processing with water contaminated with salmonella. Contamination can also occur in the kitchen, when juices from raw meat and poultry come into contact with uncooked foods, such as salads.
Can fruits carry Salmonella?
Fruits and Vegetables
Avoid unwashed fresh produce. Eating fresh produce provides important health benefits, but sometimes raw fruits and vegetables may cause food poisoning from harmful germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
Is Salmonella airborne in fridge?
Salmonella spreads by contact. It won’t float through the air, but if the vegetables touch other food, the shelf, if juice or water touches them and then anything else, if you touch them and then anything else, yes, it can spread.
How do you prevent Listeria in cantaloupe?
To help prevent infection, the CDC recommends you do the following: Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them. Scrub farm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.
How do you disinfect cantaloupe?
Use a brush to scrub the outer surface of the cantaloupe under running water for 1 minute. This step is recommended by the FDA to achieve greater reduction of bacteria. Surface cleaning is followed by sanitizing, which involves soaking the whole cantaloupe in the hot water bath at 180°F for 5 minutes.
Can you get food poisoning from a cantaloupe?
Melons and food poisoning
While melons do not naturally contain bacteria that can make you sick, their outer skin or rind can become contaminated because melons are grown close to the ground. Eating melons that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria can make you sick.
Should you rinse cantaloupe after cutting?
Well, even if you’re not planning on a mega-dose of fibrous skin and rind, there is a good reason to rinse off that melon: germs. The knife that cuts through the melon’s tough exterior can transfer nasty bugs to the sweet flesh you do consume.
How long does cantaloupe last in the refrigerator?
seven to 10 days
A whole, uncut cantaloupe or honeydew melon should last for seven to 10 days in the refrigerator. A whole, uncut watermelon is even sturdier: It should be good for two weeks.
Why do people tap on melons?
Give It a Tap
You want to gently knock on the watermelon, like you are knocking on a door, and listen. (You can also flick the rind with your finger.) If you hear a “plunking” sound, it means it is hollow and therefore ripe. If the sound is more high pitched, then the watermelon is not ripe yet.
Is there a recall on cantaloupe?
The product is packaged in 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz and 32 oz (consumer only) as well as 5 lb (foodservice only) clear plastic containers marked Fruit Medley, Fruit Tray, Fruit Salad, Cantaloupe Chunks, Hawaiian Blend, and Melon Medley. The expiration dates marked on the labels range from 3/21/2022 to 3/26/2022.
Do melons have E coli?
In most cases, the E-coli germs don’t do too much to the rind of the melon. It’s the cutting of the melon that can cause the problem. If you don’t properly wash the melon before you cut it, you might introduce E-coli to the inside of the melon.