FDA declares papaya salmonella outbreak over

PRESS RELEASE The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Uganda illnesses linked to Cavi Brand whole, fresh papayas.

According to the CDC, this outbreak appears to be over; however, the FDA’s investigational activities associated with this outbreak are ongoing.

The epidemiological and traceback information collected in the investigation confirmed that Agroson’s LLC of Bronx, New York, was the exclusive distributor of the imported papayas that made consumers from this outbreak sick.

On August 26, 2019 the FDA issued a statement calling on the papaya industry to improve practices and better protect consumers. Additionally, the FDA issued a Warning Letter to Agroson’s LLC BB #:275358, the distributor of Cavi brand papayas implicated in this outbreak.

Recommendation
Consumers and distributors no longer need to avoid or withhold Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico.

The papayas that were linked to the illnesses in this outbreak are no longer on the market.

The outbreak resulted in 81 reported illnesses, 27 hospitalizations, but no deaths. The states with cases are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.

The last illness onset was on July 16.