(RxWiki News) Mexico is the world's largest supplier of mangoes. But the fruit has had a hard time getting across the border since being linked to an outbreak of salmonella in the U.S. and Canada.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has detained imports of mangoes from Agricola Daniella, a Mexican mango supplier.
An FDA import alert means that there's enough evidence linking Daniella-brand mangoes to the salmonella outbreak to hold shipments at the border until it's been proved that the imports are safe.
"Do not buy Daniella brand mangoes."
As of September 14, 121 cases of illness related to mangoes had been reported in the U.S. There were 22 cases in Canada.
The outbreak has affected 16 states, but most of the illnesses have occurred in California. No deaths have been reported.
According to the National Mango Board, Agricola Daniella handles 60 million pounds of fruit each year. They have multiple mango plantations, but all produce goes through a single packinghouse before it's distributed.
An Associated Press report states that the Mexican government did not find evidence of the contamination at the packinghouse. Mexican officials claim that there is no connection between Daniella mangoes and the U.S. salmonella cases.
However, in FDA's press release concerning the issue, the agency states that their testing found Salmonella in Daniella's mangoes.
Regardless, American grocery retailers have recalled mangoes sold between July 12 and August 29. According to NBCNews.com, the family of one sickened woman is suing Products of Burlingame, one of the distributors that led the recall.
Salmonella is a food-borne bacteria that causes illness and can lead to death. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever.
Symptoms usually set in between eight and 72 hours of eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Those who are most at risk for severe illness already have weakened immune systems.
The FDA provided these consumer tips regarding the import alert:
- Consumers should not buy Daniella brand mangoes. If consumers have recently bought Daniella brand mangoes they should not eat them and should throw them away. These mangoes should be identified by product stickers. For mangoes without stickers, consumers should ask their retailer for brand information. When in doubt, throw it out.
- If consumers believe they have this brand of mangoes, they should not try to wash the harmful bacteria off the mangoes as contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the fruit. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit’s surface to the fruit’s flesh.
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Consumers should wash their hands with soap and warm water after handling these mangoes to remove any harmful bacteria that may have transferred to their hands.
