Mexican Mangoes Recalled for Salmonella

Mexican mangoes are being recalled over concerns the fruit is contaminated with the dangerous, sometimes fatal, Salmonella pathogen.

The Daniella brand mangoes were distributed by Splendid Products located in Burlingame, California, wrote USA Today, citing the firm’s general manager, Larry Nienkerk.

Giant Food, operator of 173 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, issued a recall of the mangoes yesterday, noting that the recalled fruit was sold between July 12 and August 24 and bears a price look-up code of PLU 4959, wrote USA Today. Giant Food advises consumers who have purchased the recalled mangoes to not consume the potentially contaminated fruit.

Canada’s Food Inspection Agency said that the Daniella mangoes have been associated with 22 infections in Canada involving the Salmonella Braenderup strain, said USA Today.

In California, 73 cases of Salmonella Braenderup have been reported. Of those, most people—67 percent—also reported that they had consumed mangoes, according to Anita Gore of the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento, said USA Today. Also, Washington state received reports of six cases of Salmonella Braenderup that are a match to the Canadian cases’ genetic fingerprint, but which have not yet been linked to the Mexican mangoes, said Donn Moyer of the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia. “We’re still looking into it,” Moyer said, according to USA Today.

“The public’s health remains our top priority. We continue to work with regulatory agencies. Anyone affected is in our thoughts,” Nienkerk told USA Today.

It can take between six and 72 hours from consumption of a contaminated product for the symptoms of Salmonella poisoning—salmonellosis—to appear. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Additional symptoms include chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days. The illness usually lasts four to seven days; however, in some, the organism can invade the bloodstream, becoming so severe that hospitalization is required. Sometimes, infection with the Salmonella pathogen can result in, and produce more severe or chronic illnesses and can leave sufferers with serious life-long health issues.

One of the most common bacterial food borne illnesses, salmonellosis can be especially life threatening to those with weakened immune systems, such as infants; the elderly; and persons with compromised immune systems, such as people with HIV infection or who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Allison Moore, FDA spokeswoman, said that the investigation into the outbreak continues.