Just Food

Daily Newsletter

28 November 2023

Daily Newsletter

Two deaths linked to US cantaloupe salmonella outbreak

The CDC said 99 cases of infection had been disclosed across 32 states.

Two deaths have been linked to an outbreak strain connected to the consumption of whole and packaged cantaloupes in the US.

In an update notice on the outbreak issued on Friday (24 November), the country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the two fatalities had been reported in Minnesota

The CDC said 99 cases of infection had been disclosed across 32 states. Forty-five people have been hospitalised, it added.

In the update, the agency said three more brands had been recalled: Rudy brand whole cantaloupes and two brands of pre-cut cantaloupes – Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac – have been added to the original recall.

The initial list of products recalled comprised Malichita whole cantaloupes, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupes, plus Aldi whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products.

“Investigators are working to identify any additional cantaloupe products that may be contaminated,” the CDC said.

Canada is also investigating this outbreak and has linked illnesses in the country with the same salmonella strain, the agency added.

Despite rising demand for vegan cheese, complex processes and high production costs could limit market growth

Per GlobalData, the global vegan cheese market will be valued at $1.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.7% by 2030, primarily driven by the rise in the vegan and vegetarian population. However, its production often involves more complex processes and expensive ingredients like nuts or plant-based proteins, leading to higher production costs, which are then passed on to consumers, making vegan cheese more expensive per unit compared to dairy cheese, which could thereby impede its widespread adoption.