Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak: How to avoid contaminated Cantaloupe

The cantaloupe salmonella outbreak has a lot of people avoiding cantaloupe and for good reason. However, understanding what to avoid and what to do when consuming cantaloupe is probably the wisdom we all need to practice regularly. Here, are three things you can do to lessen the risks involved:

1) Avoid cantaloupe from Southwest Indiana
2) Use a “produce scrub brush” (or an equally rated brush with deep bristles to clean the fruits skin) and a product like “Simple Green” diluted with hot water. Scrub, thoroughly, the outside of the cantaloupe before cutting open
3) Wash your hands, countertops and any kitchen tools when handling the cantaloupe with disinfection products that have been approved by the EPA (look for the EPA approval on the label)

*Remember: All soaps, to some degree, are “antibacterial products”. So don’t be too concerned whether or not the label states “antibacterial”. Be more concerned that the label was EPA approved.

*Focus on removing the external debris on the fruit before you cut it open. That first step of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Disinfecting vs Sterilization

“Disinfecting means pretty much what it says - it removes most of the organisms present on the surface which can cause infection or disease. Disinfecting is not suitable for eradicating mites but is useful against a number of bacterial and viral microorganisms. Sterilization, on the other hand, is the killing or removal of all disease causing organisms. Often the same products may be used to disinfect and to sterilize; the difference is in the strength of the solution and/or the amount of time the solution is left in contact with the surface.” (http://www.anapsid.org/cleaning.html)


You can go one step further and do a quick test of the outside of the cantaloupe with peroxide. Apply a small amount to the skin and if it foams its infected. Click on the following link to learn a simple step by step process for testing and cleaning with peroxide (http://www.ehow.com/how_6907624_use-peroxide-test-salmonella.html).

Dr. Sanjay Gupta further explains ways to avoid coming in contact with contaminated food products in this You Tube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYE1ePgCkSg).
Most importantly, don’t take for granted everywhere the potentially contaminated food has been and what needs to be disinfected.

*Countertops, cutting boards, refrigerator shelves
*Cutlery and silverware
*Knobs/handles, doors and drawers in the kitchen where your hands came in contact after handling contaminated products
*Light switches, walls
*Other food products that were bagged together next to the contaminated food (even the products were wrapped, it can still spread from the outside to the inside simply through handling)



Also, use paper towels when cleaning! Cloth wipes and sponges collect and continue to spread more than they clean!

Even though cantaloupe is taking a public hit for being the culprit behind the salmonella scare, remember any fruit/food product can be contaminated through exposure to animal feces/manure or other contaminated products.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Don’t just clean your food – test and disinfect it before consuming!


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