The Sonora melon processing plant linked to deadly salmonellosis outbreaks in the United States and Canada has returned negative results in tests conducted by Mexican health authorities. The analysis results published this Tuesday clarify suspicions about the Malachita company, whose melons were targeted by health organizations in the affected North American countries after eleven deaths and more than 350 infections. The company's processing plant and ejidos were closed last December for analysis purposes. Some tests that the Mexican government will repeat again in February.
Laboratory analyzes by the National Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (Senasica) have shown that the origin of the fruit has no connection to the bacteria. Now health authorities in Mexico, Canada and the United States must trace the fruits to find out whether they were infected during the export process on Mexican territory or in the affected countries themselves, which removed the fruits from large supermarkets in early December.
In the middle of the same month, Senasica took samples in the Malachita company's production units, packaging areas, water, land and its own melons. On December 15, all facilities of the Guaymas, Sonora state-based company were closed by Mexican authorities.
The accusation was a blow to the melon industry in Mexico, the world's second-largest producer after Spain. According to the latest report from the Economic Complexity Observatory, this product caused a loss of $331 million to the Mexican economy in 2021. Canada and the United States are the main buyers of the fruit. 99 out of 100 melons exported from Mexico arrive there.
In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced on December 6 that it was withdrawing Rudy and Malachita Mexican melons – both made by the Sonora company – from the market after an outbreak began in early November that has so far killed seven people . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported four deaths so far.
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