Eagle Produce Salmonella Contamination Confirmed by FDA—Over 6,500 Cases of Melons Recalled

Eagle Produce LLC voluntarily recalled thousands of its cantaloupes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a test.

Based on the FDA's findings, the rockmelons of the agricultural company are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. If you love eating cantaloupes, here are the major details you need to know.

Eagle Produce Cantaloupe Salmonella Contamination

(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Cantaloupes are displayed in a produce market on September 29, 2011, in Miami, Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that cantaloupe from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado have the bacterium listeria and so far, the outbreak has sickened more than 70 people.

According to NBC News' latest report, the latest Salmonella contamination affects cantaloupes sold by Eagle Produce across 19 U.S. states. These include the following:

Washington, D.C.
North Carolina
North Dakota
Texas
Virginia
Ohio
South Dakota
Tennessee
West Virginia
Wisconsin
California
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Kentucky
Louisiana
Minnesota
Missouri

FDA said that the exact cantaloupe brand that's possibly contaminated with Salmonella is Kandy, with an item description of "Whole Cantaloupe."

The rockmelon cases affected have the UPC number 4050 and Lot Codes 797901, 797900, and 804918. The health agency said that Eagle Produce LLC initiated a voluntary recall of 6,456 cases of whole cantaloupe.

FDA announced that the contaminated cantaloupe products were distributed between Sept. 5 and Sept. 16.

"No other products or lot code dates are affected by this recall. The company is cooperating with the FDA regarding this recall," said the FDA via its official company announcement.

What Eagle Produce Consumers Should Do

(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) In this photo illustration, a cantaloupe is seen sliced open on September 29, 2011, in Miami, Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that cantaloupe from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado have the bacterium listeria and so far, the outbreak has sickened more than 70 people.

As of Sept. 27, health officials did not receive illness reports from consumers who purchased the affected cantaloupe cases.

However, the FDA urges individuals who are living in the mentioned U.S. states and purchased the Kandy Whole Cantaloupe products to avoid eating them and should dispose of the products.

Of course, many buyers will ask for refunds. FDA said that they can contact Eagle Produce LLC at 1-800-627-8674 from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST.

Those who are feeling sick after eating Eagle Produce's sweet melons should immediately contact their healthcare providers or doctors.

Health experts warned that Salmonella poisoning is not something to be taken lightly. Symptoms can immediately develop as early as six hours after infection.

Patients can recover between four to seven days even without antibiotic treatment. However, those who have extreme diarrhea must take antibiotics or even be hospitalized.

CDC provided the severe symptoms that people infected with Salmonella can experience. If you develop some of these, then you really need to see a doctor:

Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
Bloody stools
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
Signs of dehydration (making very little urine, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness when standing up).