OWENSVILLE, Ind. — Health officials say at least some of the salmonella-contaminated cantaloupe that has sickened nearly 200 in 21 states came from a southwestern Indiana farm, but they warned Thursday that until they’ve ruled out any other possible sources, people should avoid cantaloupe grown in that part of the state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Wednesday identified Chamberlain Farms in Owensville as a source of the outbreak, which it blames for sickening 178 people since early July, including 62 who were hospitalized and two who have died.
Shelly Burgess, an FDA spokeswoman, said Thursday that the investigation is still in its early stages and that it is too early to say whether all the contaminated fruit could be traced back to the farm.
Health officials warn residents to discard any cantaloupes grown in southwestern Indiana bought on or after July 7.
John Broadhead, an attorney for the farm, said it voluntarily withdrew its cantaloupes last week and that all of its retail and wholesale purchasers complied with the recall.
“We’ve had no production,” said Tim Chamberlain, who runs the 100-acre Chamberlain Farms.
Chamberlain said health officials haven’t told him what may have caused the contamination, so the farm hasn’t been able to take steps to fix the problem.
Federal officials blamed tainted processing equipment and water at a Colorado cantaloupe farm for a listeriosis outbreak that killed 30 people last year.
