Burch Equipment expands recall to cantaloupes, honeydew melons

North Carolina food distributor Burch Equipment LLC has expanded a recall on cantaloupes and honeydew melons sold to Virginia distributors between June 23 and July 27.

According to a press release from the company, all of this season's cantaloupes and honeydew melons may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious or fatal infections in children, elderly people or individuals with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals can also suffer short-term symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea or diarrhea.

According to the Food and Drug Administration website and the Burch Equipment press release, there have been no illnesses reported due to exposure. The recall is based on the FDA's discovery of the organism on a honeydew melon grown and packed by Burch Equipment.

The whole cantaloupes are identifiable by a red label reading Burch Farms, with a referencing PLU No. 4319. Some of the cantaloupes may have been identified with a "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." sticker and a referencing PLU No. 4319, according to the release.

The honeydew melons involved in the recall do not include any identifying stickers, according to the release. They were packed in cartons labeled "melons."

According to the FDA website, consumers who may have purchased the melons should contact the store where they initially purchased the produce. The incubation period for Listeria monocytogenes can be one to three weeks, but may be in the range of three to 70 days, according to the release.

For more information, contact Burch Equipment at 910-267-5781 or email burch@intrstar.net.

Filed under: HEALTH