A test conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's(CFIA)revealed that the cantaloupe samples collected from Canadian retail stores did not contain Salmonella or Shigella and were safe for human consumption.
For the test,the agency analyzed 1,207 domestic and imported cantaloupe samples collected from Canadian retail stores.They included 895 samples from domestic and imported whole cantaloupes and 312 from imported fresh-cut,ready-to-eat cantaloupes.
All samples were classified as safe as neither Salmonella nor Shigella was detected during testing.
Salmonella and Shigella bacteria can cause salmonellosis and shigellosis respectively,two foodborne illnesses in humans.These pathogens can contaminate cantaloupes at various levels of their production if not handled properly.Cantaloupes are difficult to clean due to their rough surface and provide ideal conditions for bacterial growth.
The CFIA tests cantaloupes for pathogens to ensure they remain safe for Canadian consumers.
