Mexican mangoes linked to Salmonella outbreak in US, Canada

Mangoes imported from Mexico have been linked to a cross-border Salmonella outbreak, which may have led to more than 100 illnesses across the US and Canada.

California, Washington and Canada have reported illnesses associated with the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup bacteria.

Salmonella-contaminated mangoes were linked to 73 confirmed illnesses in California, 6 illnesses in Washington, and 22 illnesses in Canada.

California public health officials said that nearly two-thirds of the total number of people who fell ill due to Salmonella Braenderup outbreak in the state have reported eating mangoes.

The officials are currently working with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Canadian public health and food safety agencies to determine the source of the outbreak.

In response to the outbreak, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled Daniella brand mangoes, which are grown in Mexico.

The mangoes were sold individually with a sticker bearing PLU# 4959 or PLU# 4051, at various retail stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon between 12 July and 28 August.

In a similar move, US supermarket chains Giant Food and Stop & Shop have recalled Daniella mangoes with a sticker bearing PLU 4959, that were sold between 12 July and 24 August.

In addition, California-based Splendid Products, which is a primary distributor of Daniella mangoes, has issued a voluntarily recall of the fruit.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can lead to Salmonellosis, a common bacterial foodborne illness, and its symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours.

This foodborne illness can be particularly dangerous to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or those undergoing chemotherapy.

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Image: Daniella brand mangoes, which are grown in Mexico, have been recalled in the US and Canada to limit the latest salmonella outbreak. Source: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).