Honduras Cantaloupe

FDA recently placed an Import Alert on cantaloupe coming into the United    States from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a  major Honduran grower and packer. This action was taken after the Centers for  Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined fruit from the company was  associated with outbreaks of Salmonella Litchfield in 16 states. 

Watching these things unfold is fascinating. Each situation is like a mystery being solved by investigators at FDA and CDC. The investigators are often referred to as disease detectives because their techniques are a blend of scientific skill and detective shoe leather. 

The investigators piece together extensive interviews with affected people until they can find a common thread tying them together. When there are cases across 16 states that can be difficult. Once they find what is  causing it, they have to track the product back through an intricate system of  distributors, import brokers and suppliers. When the product comes from outside the United States, it is even more complicated.

An Import Alert has cascading consequences. Not only does it  affect consumers, but it immediately changes the livelihood of thousands of farm workers, processors and shippers and in many cases the viability of  companies and the way an entire nation’s products are perceived. As a result we  have to take these things very seriously. 

The cantaloupe problem is complicated further by the fact that Honduras  is in the middle of their season. There is fruit in process and still on the  vine. 

I spoke twice with Honduran President Manuel Zelaya Rosales who asked that I meet with his Agriculture, Health and Commerce Ministers the  next day in Washington.  Of course, I agreed. The envoys flew all night; their plane touched down at 5:30 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. meeting with me and FDA Commissioner Andy Von  Eschenbach.   

The three Ministers were most cooperative and understanding  of the situation. They pledged their full cooperation, asking only that we move  with all speed to find the solutions. Knowing what is at stake both in terms of human health, economics and our friendship with Honduras, I committed we would  have a team on the ground by the next day.   

The next morning a team of people from FDA and CDC left for Honduras.  As I write this over the weekend they are in the fields where we suspect the contaminated fruit originated.  We agreed at the meetings  with the Ministers that our team would work side by side with their  regulators to get at the bottom of this as quickly as possible. We have put FDA labs on notice that we want to make this a priority. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of this quickly and help the producing company remedy any problem.