PAPAYA’S COULD BE CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA AGONA

Check for “Yaya”, “Mananita”, “Blondie” and “Tastylicious” Labels on Fruit

Fast Facts

· The FDA is warning people not to eat papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc., a distributor in McAllen, Texas.

· FDA and CDC are looking at 97 reported cases of Salmonella Agona, including 10 hospitalizations, in 23 states related to papayas being eaten.

· Agromod Produce, Inc. voluntarily recalled the papayas after FDA found Salmonella matching the outbreak strain.

· The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become sicker from Salmonella infection.

· People, stores and others who have papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc. should throw them away in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.

· FDA and CDC investigations are ongoing.

What is the Problem?

The FDA is taking steps to protect the public since they found Salmonella Agona in Agromod Produce, Inc.'s supply of fresh papayas. The FDA is telling people not to eat papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc. The company is voluntarily recalling the product. The papayas were imported from Mexico, and may be linked to the reported cases of Salmonella Agona. Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples: one collected at the Agromod Produce, Inc. location in McAllen, Texas, and one collected at the U.S. border destined for Agromod Produce, Inc. The shipments that tested positive with the outbreak strain were not distributed in the U.S.

The FDA is working with Agromod Produce, Inc. to find out if earlier shipments of potentially contaminated papaya could still be in U.S. commerce.

Agromod Produce, Inc. is voluntarily recalling all papayas sold before July 23, 2011.

How Can I Tell if I am Sick from Salmonella?

Most people who get sick with Salmonella get diarrhea, fever and stomach pain 12 to 72 hours after eating or drinking something with it. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people get better without treatment. However, some people may stay in the hospital from severe diarrhea. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites. It can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become sicker from Salmonella infection.

Who is at Risk?

Older people, babies and those who are already sick are more likely to become sicker from Salmonella infection. The germ can cause very bad sickness and sometimes death these people. Most healthy people get better from Salmonella infections within four to seven days without treatment.

What Do People and Healthcare Providers Need To Do?

People should look at fresh papayas for Agromod brand stickers that say “Yaya”, “Blondie”, “Mananita” and “Tastylicious”. People who bought papayas should also talk to the store to see if the papayas they bought could have Salmonella, or throw the papaya away.

People, store owners and others who have papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc. should throw them away in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.

People who think they may have gotten sick from eating possibly contaminated papaya should call their doctors.

What Does the Papaya Look Like?

Agromod Produce, Inc. sells the four brands of papayas whole and unprocessed: Yaya, Blondie, Mananita and Tastylicious. Stores or others may have further processed the papaya. People check with their stores to see if any papaya they were selling came from Agromod Produce, Inc. To see what the labels look like go to: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm264855.htm

What is Being Done about the Problem?

FDA is looking at the problem along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health agencies in those states where people have gotten sick. The investigation is ongoing.

The FDA is also working with state authorities make sure all recalled papaya is not being sold. FDA is also working with Agromod Produce Inc. and with officials in Mexico to determine how the papayas may have become contaminated.

What Should People Do?

People with questions about the papayas should call 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

For more information:

Agromod Produce, Inc.'s Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm264854.htm
Photo: Product Labels
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm264855.htm
Salmonella (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/
Salmonella (FoodSafety.gov)
http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/salmonella/
Tips for Fresh Produce Safety
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/fruits/tipsfreshprodsafety.html