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Honduras Cantaloupes
Fifty people in the U.S. have fallen sick after eating Salmonella tainted cantaloupes from Honduras. No deaths have been reported, although 14 people have been hospitalized.
Both U.S. FDA and CDC authorities are still investigating the exact source of the salmonella contamination. So far, there are no scientific proof or laboratory analyses that confirm that the Salmonella originated in Honduras.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blocked imports of cantaloupes from Honduras-based Agropecuaria Montelibano after the illnesses were reported. The company has continued exporting to Europe and Central America and has received no reports of illness in countries other then the U.S. The decision led Agropecuaria Montelíbano to lay off 1,800 Honduran workers.
Cantaloupe represents 11 percent of all exports from Honduras. The economy in Honduras is already the 2nd worst in the western hemisphere. The average Honduran makes $1030 a year. Honduras has a 28% unemployment rate.
While health is the primary concern, this could have a devastating and long-term impact on the entire Honduran economy. Please pray for the dozens of sick U.S. citizens and the families of the 1800 unemployed Hondurans.
Posted on April 6, 2008