Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes

Illustration with a triangle and exclamation mark and text reading Food Safety Alert

Posted January 19, 2024

This outbreak is over. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from Salmonella.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 407
  • Hospitalizations: 158
  • Deaths: 6
  • States: 44
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Closed   (first posted on November 17, 2023)
Cantaloupe on a white background.

Cantaloupe

Stickers for recalled whole cantaloupes

Stickers for recalled whole cantaloupes

Recalled Food

All recalls that resulted from this investigation are listed on FDA’s cantaloupe recall website. Recalled cantaloupes are no longer available for sale and the use-by dates have passed.

What You Should Do

Always follow four food safety steps to prevent getting sick from Salmonella:

  • Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often.
  • Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
  • Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F (like a hot car or picnic), refrigerate it within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
Symptoms of Salmonella
  • Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
    • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
    • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
  • Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
  • For more information about Salmonella, see the Salmonella Questions and Answers page.