The latest food contamination scare is now known to be a deadly one.

Reports today show that 13 people have died from the deadly listeria outbreak.

The outbreak is linked to melons grown by Jensen Farms of Holly at its nearby Granada field. The company recalled all of its “Rocky Ford” brand cantaloupes on Sept. 14. ~ source

The Jensen Farms Cantaloupes at the center of this listeriosis outbreak have a green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA- Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords.

There have been 72 reported illnesses in 18 states, including 15 in Colorado.  Two people, since July, have died from listeriosis in Colorado, four in New Mexico, two in Texas and one each in Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Listeriosis, caused by listeria, is a rare, but serious illness that mostly affects older adults, pregnant women, newborns and those with compromised immune systems. A person who comes down with listeriosis will usually experience fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and confusion. The infection almost always spreads to the gastrointestinal tract, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

One of the dangers of this listeriosis outbreak is that it is possible that there are still people who may have these contaminated cantaloupe in their home refrigerators.  Listeriosis can still grow, even when refrigerated, so all suspect melons should be thrown away.

This newest listeria poisoning in cantaloupe now ranks as the third deadliest outbreak in U.S. history – as reported by a CDC’s Foodborne Outbreak Online Database.

image source ~ flickr