Approximately 8,300 cartons of cantaloupes were affected
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NEED TO KNOW
- A recall notice was recently issued for cantaloupes sold in four states
- According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cantaloupes sold by distributor Ayco Farms Inc. had a possible risk of Salmonella contamination
- On April 20, the FDA updated the recall, classifying it as Class 1, the agency’s most serious risk category
A recall issued in March for cantaloupes sold in four states following concerns of salmonella contamination has been classified by the Food and Drug Administration.
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent out a voluntary recall notice for cantaloupes sold by Florida-based food distributor Ayco Farms Inc. On Monday, April 20, the agency updated the recall and classified it as a Class I, the FDA's most serious risk category.
A Class I recall is initiated when "there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death," per the FDA's website.
PEOPLE reached out to Ayco Farms Inc. for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
In an April 10 press release, the food distributor said there was no longer an active recall for its products.
“The recall was initiated earlier this year as a precautionary measure in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” a statement read. “On March 24, 2026, Ayco Farms issued formal notifications to its customers, as agreed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as part of the agency’s standard recall reporting process.”
The company said the recall was a “regulatory protocol,” adding that because refrigerated fresh cantaloupe have a shelf life of about 30 days, the products in question were no longer on the market.
“Ayco Farms remains committed to the highest standards of food safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance,” the statement concluded.
The FDA described the products with potential salmonella contamination as being fresh cantaloupe from the Ayco brand, wrapped in food-safe plastic bags packed in corrugated cardboard cartons containing between six and 12 melons per box.
Approximately 8,300 cartons were affected, according to the recall notice.
States where the potentially contaminated cantaloupes were sold include Pennsylvania, Florida, California and New York.
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Salmonella is a bacteria that leads to infections and can be “caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs or egg products or by drinking unpasteurized milk,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
While some people who contract the infection may have no symptoms, others experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramping that typically begin eight hours to three days after being exposed to the contaminated food.
Salmonella can be life-threatening, but most people who are healthy usually recover within a few days to a week without needing to seek medical help.
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