Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

NEWS

Jensen Farms Includes IN, LA, and WI in Cantaloupe Recall Notification

September 30, 2011

Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado recently added whole cantaloupes shipped to Indiana, Louisiana and Wisconsin in its Sept. 14 recall notification, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain D.V.M., said.

Click here for the original recall notice: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm271879.htm

A news release issued by the company stated, as part of its ongoing internal review of shipment records, Jensen Farms has identified shipments to these three states as part of the September 14 recall. The whole cantaloupes sent to IN, LA and WI were included in the original volume recalled on September 14, and the customers that received this product from Jensen Farms were notified of the recall on the same day.

“The company has confirmed that its customers, including those who requested that the product be shipped to Indiana, Louisiana or Wisconsin, received the September 14 recall notice to remove the product from commerce immediately,” said Jensen Farms Spokesperson Amy Philpott.

Regarding where the product was sold, Philpott said the company sells to customers who sometimes resell the product. “In these cases, the company doesn’t know the final customer,” Philpott said. “This is why the company is including the entire state of Louisiana in this recall.”

The whole cantaloupes in question were shipped between July 29th, 2011 and September 10th 2011.

Strain said the important thing for consumers to know, and the only way to determine if they have the recalled product, is to check the stickers on the whole cantaloupe.

The recalled whole cantaloupes have a green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA- Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford- Cantaloupe or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords.

Strain said if it does not have a sticker, consumers should contact the store from where it was purchased to determine the source.

Philpott said the farm stopped shipping cantaloupes Sept. 10, so it is very likely that the recalled cantaloupes are no longer available in the marketplace.

“It appears that some cantaloupe may have been sold in Louisiana,” said Dr. Raoult Ratard, state epidemiologist with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. “It is important that people not eat the cantaloupe in question, particularly people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women. If anyone did eat this brand of cantaloupe recently and are concerned, they should consult their physician immediately.”

Consumers with questions may contact Jensen Farms via email at recall@rfordcantaloupe.com or phone 1-800-267-4561 Monday thru Friday between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm MST.