Mango recall intensifies; some illnesses confirmed
Mango recall intensifies; some illnesses confirmed
The Canadian Fruit Inspection Agency has expanded its recall of “Daniella” brand mangos to include the entire country because of a Salmonella Braenderup contamination concern that has resulted in about a dozen illnesses. In addition, mangos are suspected in a similar Salmonella outbreak in California.
The mangos in Canada were sold between July 12 and up to and including Aug. 28. As of Wednesday morning, 22 people had become sick, with 17 of them being in the province of British Columbia and five in neighboring Alberta. The Canadian importer, Mex Y Can Trading Inc. of Mississauga, ON, has voluntarily recalled the affected mangos and the CFIA is monitoring the Canadian recall.
In addition, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, Aug. 28, that 73 people have become ill because of exposure to Salmonella Braenderup in California and it appears there could be a link to the same mangos. As a result of both the Canadian and the suspected California connection, Splendid Products LLC, Burlingame, which also imports the “Daniella” brand of mangos, has instituted its own voluntary recall.
CDPH Spokesman Matt Conens told the Los Angeles paper that the agency is still investigating the link but a large percentage of the people who became sick in California reported eating mangos. Larry Nienkerk, owner of Burlingame-based Splendid Products, told The Los Angeles Times: "We're trying to gather as much information as we can and get to the bottom of this. We're concerned about the people who've been affected."
This morning, Aug. 29, Mr. Nienkerk told The Produce News that he was in the middle of a whirlwind of activity dealing with multiple agencies and obviously making sure any potentially affected fruit was out of the marketplace. He promised a full airing of the issue as information became available.
