Heeren Brothers Produce is recalling approximately 5,400 cantaloupes because of a possible health risk to consumers.
The produce, which was distributed to small, independent grocers in Michigan July 23-26, has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and should be discarded and not consumed. The cantaloupes are Athena Cantaloupes, but have no stickers or other markings that identify them as such.
Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly or others with weak immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
Heeren Brothers Produce has not received any case of reported illnesses related to this product to date. The recall does not affect any other Heeren Brothers Produce products.
Heeren Brothers Produce became aware of this issue after the Food & Drug Administration conducted a routine sampling and found the cantaloupes contained the bacteria.
After receiving notice from the FDA, Heeren Brothers Produce immediately alerted retailers and requested that they remove the produce from their shelves. Heeren Brothers Produce has also contacted the supplier of the cantaloupes. The source of the potential issue is still under investigation. Heeren Brothers Produce is cooperating fully with the FDA.
Heeren Brothers Produce is committed to consumer safety. We have product handling and safety protocols in place to assure that we provide our retailers and their customers with fresh, safe and healthy products. A recent audit by an independent, third-party laboratory rated our procedures as excellent in the industry.
Consumers who have questions may contact Heeren Brothers Produce at 616.452.2101 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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