Listeria monocytogenes (five outbreak-associated subtypes) United States · 2011

Listeriosis outbreak linked to whole cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, United States, 2011

CDC reported 147 people infected with any of five outbreak-associated Listeria subtypes in 28 states, with 33 outbreak-associated deaths and one miscarriage. 143 of 145 ill people with available information were hospitalised. FDA isolated outbreak subtypes from equipment and cantaloupe samples at the Jensen Farms packing facility in Granada, Colorado. CDC said cantaloupes from other farms were not linked to the outbreak. Eric and Ryan Jensen, who owned and operated Jensen Farms, pleaded guilty in October 2013 to six federal misdemeanour counts of introducing adulterated cantaloupe into interstate commerce, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, and in January 2014 each was sentenced to five years of probation, as reported by NPR and the Associated Press.^1,2,3,4

Counts as reported on 27 August 2012.¹ Food vehicle: Whole Rocky Ford cantaloupes. Company named in official findings: Jensen Farms (Granada, Colorado).

Timeline

1. 31 July 2011Earliest illness onset reported by CDC.¹
2. 14 September 2011Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of Rocky Ford cantaloupe, as announced by FDA and reported by CDC.¹
3. 27 October 2011Latest illness onset reported by CDC.¹
4. 27 August 2012CDC final update addendum.¹

Regulatory and legal outcomes

1. 22 October 2013US District Court, District of Colorado (Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty). Eric and Ryan Jensen pleaded guilty to all six counts of an information charging introduction of adulterated cantaloupe into interstate commerce and aiding and abetting, according to the US Attorney's Office.²
2. 28 January 2014US District Court, District of Colorado (Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty). Each brother was sentenced to five years of probation, six months of home detention, 150,000 dollars in restitution and 100 hours of community service, as reported by NPR and the Associated Press.^3,4

Sources

1. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011 Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Whole Cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, Colorado (27 August 2012)
2. US Attorney's Office, District of Colorado, Eric and Ryan Jensen Plead Guilty to All Counts of Introducing Tainted Cantaloupe into Interstate Commerce (22 October 2013)
3. NPR, Cantaloupe Farmers Get Probation Over Deadly Listeria Outbreak (28 January 2014)
4. Associated Press via CBS News, Farmers get probation in deadly listeria outbreak (28 January 2014)