Listeria Outbreak Linked To Cantaloupe From Jensen Farms
DENVER (CBS4)- Test results confirm the listeria outbreak is linked to cantaloupe from a single farm in Colorado. Jensen Farms near Holly in southeastern Colorado voluntarily recalled their cantaloupe on Wednesday after a warning from the Food and Drug Administration.
"We sampled several cantaloupe and they've been directly linked to the same DNA analysis that we saw in the listeria cases in humans in Colorado," said Exec. Director Colorado State Health Dept. Dr. Chris Urbina.
"It hurts, it hurts. We're just a small family farm. It's something very personal to us. We lost our father a year ago in March," said Jensen Farms owner Eric Jensen.
The cause of the outbreak is not yet known, but it is feared it could spread among those most at risk.
"Those people over 60, immuno suppressed, chronic diseases, transplants and pregnant women may still not know there is a risk eating cantaloupe," said Urbina.
Stores have pulled the cantaloupe from their shelves. The melons can be recognized by the Jensen Farms Sweet Rocky Fords label. Health experts advise to wash all melons before eating them.
A Colorado Springs couple has filed a lawsuit naming Jensen Farms and Walmart because they were sickened by listeria after eating cantaloupe.
