Chamberlain Farms Recalls Watermelons as a Precaution

Melon madness continues in southwestern Indiana, as Chamberlain Farms, recently blamed for a devastating outbreak of salmonella in cantaloupes, announced plans to recall its watermelons, as they continue to work with government officials to locate the definite source of this foodborne illness.

In a statement released earlier today, Chamberlain Farm Produce Inc. of Owensville says that they are not aware of anyone getting sick from eating watermelons from their farm, but their product is the subject of an investigation.

The statement said, “We are continuing to cooperate fully with authorities at the FDA and the Indiana State Department of Health to determine the full facts about the source of the salmonella found on our watermelon.”

Shelly Burges, a spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, says the agency is currently investigation watermelons from the Chamberlain farm, but according to Indiana State Department of Health officials, the inquiry is not related to the cantaloupe salmonella outbreak.

Schnucks Grocery said today in a press release that it was eliminating Chamberlain’s watermelons from its stores until after the investigation is complete.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last month, the FDA traced a salmonella outbreak that hospitalized 78 people and killed two to Chamberlain Farms.

[Washington Post]