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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
November 1, 2002
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Blocks Imports of Mexican Cantaloupes
On October 28, 2002, the FDA issued an import alert advising officials at U.S. ports to detain cantaloupes from Mexico without physical examination. The alert was a result of unsanitary conditions in the cantaloupe growing and packing facilities in Mexico causing four Salmonellae outbreaks during the past three years in the United States. FDA sampling found that some imported cantaloupes from most growing regions in Mexico tested positive for Salmonella. The October 28 import alert expands the prior warnings that targeted specific shippers and growers whose products were linked to outbreaks or tested positive for Salmonella. Trade sources estimate that the FDA action could result in losses amounting to at least $4 to $6 million per month if the situation is not resolved expeditiously. U.S. imports of cantaloupe from Mexico were valued at $46.4 million in CY 2001. Cantaloupe imports from Mexico tend to ramp up in November, and peak during the period March-May.
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