Diet Write
by DietWrite, Diet.com's Diet and Fitness News Reporter

Cantaloupes are to blame for the salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 140 people and killed 2, health officials have concluded.

In an outbreak that has spanned 20 states - but had its strongest impact in Kentucky - cantaloupes grown in Indiana have ultimately been linked to the contamination. Both deaths and over 1/3 of the cases of sickness have been reported in Kentucky.

If you have any cantaloupes in your home, check their stickers to see if they were grown in Indiana. If so, throw those cantaloupes out immediately!

According to ABC News, "Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, vomiting and cramps, which develop between 12 and 72 hours of infection. The illness usually runs four to seven days, unless the person is hospitalized with a severe case."

Health officials are also reiterating that you should throw these cantaloupes away, and NOT just wash them. Salmonella can contaminate both the inside and outside of the fruit.

Read more about the states involved in the salmonella outbreak at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website:

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Cantaloupe

We urge you to double-check any cantaloupes you have at home - and if you're not sure where it was grown, do the safe thing and throw it away!

Pass this alert on to your friends and family, to help spread the word.