Heeren Brothers Produce recalls cantaloupes

Heeren Brothers Produce, Grand Rapids, Mich., is recalling approximately 5,400 cantaloupes because of a possible health risk to consumers.

The produce, which was distributed to small, independent grocers in Michigan July 23-26, has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and should be discarded and not consumed. The cantaloupes are Athena Cantaloupes, but have no stickers or other markings that identify them as such, according to a Heeren press release.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly or others with weak immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer short-term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea. Listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Heeren Brothers Produce has not received any case of reported illnesses related to this product to date. The recall does not affect any other Heeren Brothers Produce products, according to the company.

Heeren became aware of this issue after FDA conducted a routine sampling and found the cantaloupes contained the bacteria. After receiving notice from FDA, the company immediately alerted retailers and requested that they remove the produce from their shelves. Heeren has also contacted the supplier of the cantaloupes. The source of the potential issue is still under investigation, according to Heeren.

Grand Rapids is in Kent County. The Kent County Health Department had not received any complaints connected to the Heeren Brothers recall as of Aug. 6, said Lisa LaPlante, spokesperson for the department.

Consumers can contact Heeren Brothers Produce at 616-452-2101, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about listeria, visit this information page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.