Food advisory issued for cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon in Canada

A food advisory has been issued for all kinds of melons in Canada.

As melon season begins, Health Canada is urging Canadians to prioritize food safety when handling cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew.

These melons, part of the gourd family, grow close to the ground and have a hard rind surrounding a fleshy interior.

While melons do not naturally harbour harmful bacteria, their rinds can become contaminated due to their close-to-ground growth.

Last year (Dec. 2023), a salmonella outbreak was linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes, resulting in six deaths across at least nine provinces.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported one additional death later, bringing the total to seven. By that time, 153 cases had been confirmed, with further cases under investigation.

The outbreak affected multiple regions, including 103 confirmed cases in Quebec, 20 in Ontario, 17 in British Columbia, four in Nova Scotia, three in Alberta and two each in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Health Canada says that to ensure safe consumption and avoid food poisoning, individuals should follow proper food safety practices when handling, washing, preparing and storing these fruits.

Risks: May pose health risks such as food poisoning.

What you should do:

• Choose firm melons free of bruises or damage. Minor blemishes from ground contact are generally safe.
• Refrigerate pre-cut melons and wash your hands with warm water and soap before and after handling.
• Scrub whole melons under cool running water with a clean produce brush to avoid transferring bacteria from the rind.
• Whole melons can be stored in the fridge for up to 15 days. Cut melons should be refrigerated and used within four days. Cut melons left at room temperature for more than two hours should be thrown away.