K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Import Alert for Mexican papayas over widespread Salmonella contamination

March 28, 2019 from FoodSafetyNews:

"The conditions that two years ago led to a deadly multistate salmonella outbreak due to Maradoly papayas imported from Mexico remain largely unchanged."

"mported papayas from Mexico remain under an import alert issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that permits U.S. ports of entry to detain the Mexican produce without physical examination. FDA’s concern once again is the potential for widespread Salmonella contamination Mexican grown papayas for the American market."

"In 2017, Maradol Papayas were associated with four outbreaks involving eight strains of Salmonella. These included Salmonella Urbana, Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Thompson, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Agona and Salmonella Gaminara."

More than 250 people were sickened in those outbreaks involving about one-half of U.S. states due to Mexican-grown papayas. Two deaths were also blamed on the imported fruit. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta in 2017 went so far as to recommend that “consumers not eat, restaurants not serve and retailers not sell Maradol papayas..”