Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe

Hoosiers should toss out any cantaloupes they’ve bought since July 7, state and federal health officials said Friday.

That warning follows a salmonellosis outbreak that’s left 14 sick in Indiana and about 150 ill nationwide, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

No cases of the illness have been reported in Jackson County, Dr. Kenneth Bobb said Friday afternoon. Bobb is the local health officer with Jackson County Health Department.

“We are aware of the threat, but there have been no cases locally,” Bobb said.

Officials are investigating farms in southwest Indiana, as well as distributors and retailers, as potential sources of the outbreak, the state said in news release.

One farm voluntarily agreed to pull its products and stopped shipment of all cantaloupes as a precaution, the state said. Kentucky, which has 50 confirmed cases, is also investigating retailers and other points along the distribution chain.

The report was news to Tim Tiemeyer, a Vallonia producer of cantaloupes who said he’s had no contact with state health officials about the outbreak.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said Friday. “We just recently put in a new washer to fight off bacteria that can cause diseases. Our system is a combination spray and foam system.” Farm and food regulations require cantaloupes be washed before shipping to market.

Tiemeyer said the report should not cause him any ill impact.

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