Australian cantaloupe farm linked to listeria outbreak resumes supply

More News Top Stories
Australian cantaloupe farm linked to listeria outbreak resumes supply

The farm at the center of the listeria outbreak that led to six deaths has resumed production and supply of cantaloupe melons, ABC News reported.

Rombola Family Farms released a statement confirming the New South Wales Food Authority had given them approval to resume production, packaging and sale of cantaloupes.

They claimed that they had met all the requirements of the authority's clearance program and said that no specific source linking the outbreak of listeria to the farm had been identified.

However, this was disputed by the state government.

"There was very much direct linkages and direct proof that their rockmelons were responsible for the outbreak", New South Wales compliance and biosecurity director Peter Day was quoted as saying.

"We got positive testing in 20 rockmelons taken from different shops from Rombola across the state, 5 whole rockmelons from different boxes from that farm, and a boot swab from the packing area at the farm itself".

The Australian Melon Association (AMA) also voiced its concerns, saying the outbreak had not been properly traced or adequately addressed.

The AMA's industry development manager, Dianne Fullelove, said that growers were eager to find out what went wrong, but they had not yet received a report on the outcome of the investigation.

"We are asking the growers to brand or identify their rockmelons so that consumers will know the origin of the fruit".

ABC reported that the farm would undertake mandatory testing as part of their clearance program, as well as voluntary testing on a daily basis.

www.freshfruitportal.com

Subscribe to our newsletter