Caribeña’s brand yellow Maradol papayas may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, according to the Maryland Department of Health. The yellow papaya have been distributed to retail stores throughout the state.
Consumers are encouraged to check any papayas they have purchased to see if they match the brand and type recalled. Five yellow Maradol papayas sold at a Baltimore retail location were tested as part of an ongoing Salmonella case investigation. Three of the five papayas tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria.
There is no information on how many people may have been sickened or any information about a timeline. And officials have not found the source of the contamination, but state that it could have occurred at any time or place in the supply chain.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach and abdominal cramps and pain, and a fever. People usually get sick 12 to 36 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Most people recover without extensive medical treatment, but this bacteria can cause sepsis, a serious condition, if it gets into the bloodstream. Hospitalization usually occurs with sepsis or dehydration.
If you purchased this product, do not eat it. Throw it away in a sealed container so other people and animals can’t eat it, or take it back to the store where you bought it for a full refund. Wash your hands well after handling the product.
If you have eaten this product and have been experiencing the symptoms of a Salmonella infection, see your doctor. Even if you recover completely, this illness should be on your medical chart in case issues present in the future.
