FDA investigating Listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe

The Food and Drug Administration says it is investigating a multi-state outbreak of Listeria bacteria linked to whole cantaloupe in the Midwest.

According to a release from the agency, at least 15 people have been sickened with Listeriosis poisoning. Most of them reported symptoms consistent with Listeria poisoning after eating whole cantaloupe believed to have been grown in the Rocky Ford growing region of Colorado. The victims of the outbreak have been reported from Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

The FDA said it is working with state and local officials to determine where in the supply chain the fruit is being contaminated.

Listeria poisoning can be a fatal form of food poisoning and poses serious risks to pregnant women. Among the most serious side effects of Listeria poisoning are miscarriage and stillbirths among pregnant women infected by the bacteria. Early signs of infection include nausea, joint and muscle pain, severe headaches, vomiting and diarrhea.