Mango brand pulled from shelves in salmonella scare - USA TODAY

By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

Updated

Eleven U.S. grocery chains have pulled Daniella-brand mangoes from Mexico off store shelves as federal officials investigate 103 cases of salmonella that may be linked to the tropical fruit.

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  Stockbyte via Getty Images

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday 103 cases of salmonella tied to mangoes.

Stockbyte via Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday 103 cases of salmonella tied to mangoes.

The cases have occurred in 16 states since July 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.

Though a definitive connection between the cases of Salmonella Braenderup, as this strain is known, and a specific mango supplier has not been made, importer Splendid Products of Burlingame, Calif., issued a voluntary recall Monday of Daniella-brand mangoes "out of an abundance of caution," general manager Larry Nienkerk said.

• STORY: Mangoes may be linked to salmonella

Last week an importer in Canada initiated a voluntary recall of Daniella-brand mangoes as the result of 22 illnesses reported there. The CDC confirms that the DNA fingerprint of the Canadian cases and the U.S. cases match.

The California Department of Public Health has reported 73 cases of salmonella Braenderup and is leading the national investigation.

Whether the outbreak is still spreading is unclear. As of Wednesday, Washington state had had six cases of salmonella that match the genetic fingerprint of the Canadian cases, said Donn Moyer of the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia.

All were in late July. "We've not had any in a month," he said. That indicates "there probably isn't an active outbreak right now in our state."

In a release, the Food and Drug Administration said: "We are moving quickly to learn as much as possible and prevent additional people from becoming ill. We recognize that people will be concerned about this outbreak, and we will continue to provide updates and advice."

Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a common bacterial illness. Salmonellosis can lead to diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight to 72 hours, as well as chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems such as infants and the elderly, the CDC says.

The recalled mangoes were sold as individual fruit and can be identified by the Daniella-brand sticker and one of the following PLU numbers: 3114, 4051, 4311, 4584 or 4959. The recalled mangoes were sold at various retail stores throughout the USA between July 12 and Aug. 29.

In a release issued Wednesday, Splendid Products said: "Those who have bought the recalled mangoes are advised not to eat them and to discard them. If there is no identifying sticker on the mango, consider discarding or returning the product to the place of purchase."

Said Splendid Products general manager Larry Nienkerk: "We want to let everyone know our top priority is public safety. We have notified all of our customers, and we are working with all the government agencies that are involved. We didn't want to wait."

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