A recent report from the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) summarizes the development of formal risk assessment models for Listeria monocytogenes in leafy greens, cantaloupe, frozen vegetables, and ready-to-eat (RTE) seafood.
An analysis of salmonellosis outbreaks linked to melons showed cantaloupes to have a higher public health burden than other melons, and revealed factors that may contribute to more severe outbreaks.
Treating melons as food as soon as possible—even though they will be peeled—is needed to mitigate the risks associated with the three contamination mechanisms for cantaloupe. Zero risk is impossible, but can industry do better?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report on its investigation of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to cantaloupes that occurred during July–September 2022, and has highlighted food safety recommendations for melon growers and distributors.
