TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Health officials in some states are warning shoppers to avoid certain cantaloupes amid concerns they may carry Salmonella.

The recall, announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), involves fruit produced by Ayco Farms Inc. and first pulled from shelves on March 24, Health.com reported.

In total, 8,302 cartons of cantaloupes are affected. The fruit was shipped to California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.

The cantaloupes were sold whole and packaged in food-safe plastic bags, then placed in cardboard cartons containing six to 12 melons each.

Several lot numbers are affected, the FDA said: GC26257, GC26270, GC26288, GC26289, GC26290, GC26294, GC26299, GC26301, GC26307, GC26308, GC26311, GC26312, GC26313, GC26318, GC26325, GC26326, GC26328, SCX2601, SCX2606, SCX2611, SCX2614, SCX2622, SCX2625, SCX2629, SCX2633, SGC2601, SGC2602 and SGC2607.

Salmonella can cause symptoms like diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be particularly dangerous for young kids, older adults and people with weak immune systems.

The FDA did not provide detailed instructions for consumers, but experts say the safest choice is to avoid eating the recalled cantaloupe, Health.com said.

Anyone who has purchased these should throw them away and disinfect any surfaces they may have touched to prevent possible contamination.

More information

The Mayo Clinic has more on Salmonella.

SOURCE: Health.com, April 20, 2026