Wondering why

Wouldn't it serve fresh produce marketers if not only the country of origin was listed on the label, but also the farm of origin? Wouldn't that help consumers and the trade identify any produce under a recall order or import alert? And why can't the FDA identify the brand marketers/retail outlets of this particular Honduras melon suspected to be linked to salmonella?

From one story comes this quote:

"If you have any of this kind of cantaloupe at home, we recommend that you throw it out," Dr. William E. Keene, an epidemiologist at the Oregon Public Health Division. "If your cantaloupe has a sticker that says Guatemala or some other country, then it is not associated with this outbreak. If you can't tell where it came from, or if it came from Honduras, you could check with the store to see if it might be from this company."

Agrolibano distributes under many different label names.

"It is confusing, but unfortunately there isn't any magic wand we can wave to tell which cantaloupe came from which field," he said. "If you're concerned about fruit that you have at home, the simplest thing to do is just toss it."

More Honduras melon headlines:



Honduran president's position on warnings

Honduras wants compensation for melons that sickened U.S., Canadian consumers

Cantaloupes sold at Safeway may be contaminated with salmonella

Melons sicken nine in state

US processors alerted over fruit scare

Dicey melons shipped but not sold in area

Salmonella linked to imported cantaloupe