Whole cantaloupes from Ayco Farms are being pulled from circulation in New York after the Food and Drug Administration flagged a possible Salmonella contamination. The recall covers roughly 8,302 cardboard cartons, each holding six to 12 melons, and spans dozens of lot codes from multiple production runs. Shipments went to both retail and food-service accounts in New York and other states, according to public reporting. Officials are urging anyone who thinks they have the affected fruit not to eat it and to check any remaining packaging for lot numbers.
What was recalled
According to PIX11, which cites an FDA recall notice, Ayco Farms Inc. voluntarily pulled the fresh cantaloupes after investigators identified a potential Salmonella risk. The PIX11 report lays out a long list of impacted lot numbers, including codes such as GC26257, GC26270 and GC26288, and notes that the fruit was packed in cardboard cartons. That account says the recall involves about 8,302 cartons and that the FDA had not yet assigned an official recall classification at the time of publication. The public notice did not include a retail UPC for individual melons sold one by one.
How to check and what to do
Consumers who suspect they have one of the recalled cantaloupes should not eat it. The guidance is simple: return the melon to the retailer or throw it out, then clean and sanitize any cutting boards, knives, countertops or other surfaces that may have touched the fruit. Holding on to the original packaging or snapping clear photos of the lot codes can help retailers and public health investigators trace affected shipments. For the formal recall notice and any updates, check the recall section on the FDA website.
Symptoms and when to seek care
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that Salmonella infection typically causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within a few days of exposure, and most otherwise healthy people recover without medical treatment. Young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system face a higher risk of severe illness and should contact a healthcare provider if symptoms become serious. If you start feeling sick after eating cantaloupe that might be part of the recall, tell your doctor about the possible exposure and consider reporting the illness to your local health department.
Where the fruit went and next steps
PIX11 reports that the recalled cartons were distributed to New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and California, so shoppers and businesses in those states should take a closer look at recent produce purchases and incoming inventory. Retailers and food-service operators that received any of the listed lot numbers are advised to pull that stock from use and follow FDA instructions for handling recalled products. Consumers who still have questions can contact the place of purchase or review the recall details on the FDA site for the latest guidance.
Bottom line for New Yorkers: if there is a whole cantaloupe in your kitchen and its lot code appears on the recall list, do not eat it. Return or discard the fruit, clean any surfaces it touched and reach out to a medical professional if you develop symptoms that line up with Salmonella. Suspected cases should be reported to public health authorities so investigators can track any illnesses that may be tied to this recall.
