The California cantaloupe industry has urged farmers, retailers, foodservice operators and distributors to examine their food safety systems and procedures to ensure that consumers are purchasing safe and healthy products.
This announcement comes after cantaloupes grown in Indiana were linked to a multistate Salmonella outbreak.
In addition, the California cantaloupe industry is calling on buyers to ensure that their suppliers are also committed to producing food in the safest manner possible.
The California cantaloupe industry, represented by the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, noted that it has implemented programs, which include mandatory government inspection of farms and packing facilities to verify that food safety standards are being followed.
These programs require that all shippers have the ability to quickly traceback and recall product if necessary.
The board noted that consumers can either look for a sticker on the fruit which states that it was grown in California or ask the produce manager, to obtain cantaloupes from California.
