The Secretary of Health of the State of Sonora carried out a study in the area where the field from which the supposedly contaminated melons came was located and found no evidence of an increase in the levels or cases of salmonella in Guaymas and Empalmereported the head of Sagarpha, Fátima Rodríguez Mendoza.
The state official specified that the agricultural field that produces the melons that are distributed under the Malichita and Rudys brands was closed by Cofepris since November 1 when the Salmonella outbreak in the US and Canada.
While Senasica carries out the studies of soil, water and the production line, it is waiting for the final results of the studies to clearly define the situation of the melons harvested in Sonora.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Hydraulic Resources, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Sagarhpa) highlighted that a large percentage of The affected people consumed the processed product, that is, the melon in pieces, not whole as it was exported from Sonora.so the investigation will determine if the origin of the strain is local or if it is from another place.
The agency explained that the sampling carried out by Senasica and the State Plant Health Committee (Cesave), There have been no positive cases for the presence of the bacteria.so until now there are no conclusive elements regarding the origin of the salmonella contagion in Canada and the United States, caused by alleged consumption of Sonoran melon.
It is worth remembering that Mexico is the main supplier of fresh vegetables to the United Stateswith whom there is a commercial exchange of agri-food products exceeding 44 billion dollars.
On November 1, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published on its website the recall of Cantaloupe melons from the company Agropecuaria Malichita, SA de CV located in Guaymas, which was derived from a sample that was positive for Salmonella spp. in said product.
In Sonora, an area of 1,960 hectares was planted in the Autumn-Winter 23-24 cycle, of which 1,350 were planted in the Guaymas-Empalme region.
The company Malichita SA de CV, cultivated more than 200 hectares of cantaloupe melon with a production of more than 9 thousand tons, but prior to export shipments, sampling was carried out as part of its safety program, which to date have been negative. Salmonella spp.
The company exported 90 percent of its production to the United States, and this country, in turn, through a marketing company, exported a part of the volume to Canada.
When the news was announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Cesave and Senasica, in coordination, implemented a sampling and diagnosis program in products, surface and water in order to identify the possible presence of Salmonella spp in the company. Malichita SA de CV and determine if it matches the strain that caused contamination in the United States and Canada.
As part of the investigations that were carried out in the United States and Canada on December 7 for Salmonella spp Infection, it was reported that not all cases are associated with the Cantaloupe melon consumption and the related ones are from the fruit but pre-cut (processed product that is not exported by the company Malichita SA de CV), reported the Sagarhpa.
“Sonora has exceptional safety standards worldwide and we will preserve them, so together with Senasica and Cesave we will do what is necessary in the ongoing investigation,” said Rodríguez Mendoza.
In the United States, the Food Department (FDA) reported that several companies have carried out voluntary recalls of products from distributors who were involved in the marketing of contaminated melon.
Therefore, this regulatory authority carries out health surveillance actions continuously and in coordination with other institutions to prevent contaminated products from being marketed, putting the health of the population at risk.
