Lawsuit Filed in Papaya Salmonella Outbreak

A New Jersey man has filed a lawsuit against a produce supplier
for its role in a Salmonella Kiambu outbreak in 12 states linked to
Mexican papayas that has sickened 47 people and reportedly
caused one death. Colon v. Grande Produce, No. 17-5458 (D.N.J.,
filed July 26, 2017). The plaintiff alleges that he fell ill in June
2017 after consuming a papaya imported by Grande Produce and
was later diagnosed with Salmonella-induced illness. Claiming
strict product liability, negligence and breach of warranties, the
plaintiff seeks damages and attorney’s fees.

On July 26, Grande Produce announced it had issued a limited
recall of Caribeña Maradol papayas distributed between July 10-
19, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning
consumers to avoid all Mexican Maradol papayas regardless of the
source. An FDA recall notice stated, “The FDA notes that there are
illnesses in states where Grande Produce did not distribute
papayas and is continuing its investigation.”

Issue 642