Texas importer recalls entire lot of Papaya contaminated with Salmonella, 97 already sick

A Texas company has issued a massive continent-wide recall on fresh Papaya because the fruit may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

At least 97 people have been confirmed with the bacterial infection Salmonella Agona. Ten of these victims have been hospitalized due to the severity of the illness. Victims have been reported in 23 states in the U.S.

According to a release from Agromod Produce Inc., of McAllen, Texas, the recall includes ALL papaya sold under the brand names Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious. Affected fruit was sold prior to July 23, according to the company.

The recalled fruit was imported from Mexico and distributed nationwide in the U.S. and Canada to wholesalers and retail outlets.

Agromod has provided the following details on the product label stickers found on most of the fruit included in the recall: “Each Blondie Brand papaya can be identified by a blue and orange sticker label with green and white lettering on the fruit that states Blondie 4395 Mexico. The Yaya Brand Papayas can be identified by a yellow, red, orange, and green label with white, green and red lettering that reads Yaya Premium Papayas Yaya PLU-4395 Mexico. Each Mañanita Brand Papaya can be identified by a green, yellow and red sticker label that states Mexico Mañanita 4395. The Tastylicious Brand Papayas can be identified by a white and blue sticker with red and white lettering that states 4395 Tastylicious MEXICO.”

Sampling by the Food and Drug Administration at the McAllen headquarters of Agromod discovered two contaminated samples of Papaya, each with Salmonella Agona bacteria.

The company is urging consumers with potentially contaminated Papaya to return it where it was purchased for a refund. The FDA is continuing to work to find a source of the contamination.

Like in this outbreak, some symptoms of Salmonella poisoning can require hospitalization. Children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems are most likely to be affected by the worst symptoms of Salmonella poisoning.

Early signs of an infection are fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can be severe, cause dehydration, lead to hospitalization and potentially death.