The Problem with Netted Melons Goes Further Than Rind Deep

Netted melons pose a unique challenge. The texture of the surface serves as a webbing to attract and trap microbes. Some of which can do us harm. Harm that ranges from mild intestinal illness, to severe complication, and even death.

Since we do not eat the rind, most people don’t give it a second thought. In fact, I’m sure you grew up in a household that didn’t wash any melons. Including those like cantaloupe. Just because we did it that way, doesn’t make it safe.

If you look closely, those textured crevices are serious threats for causing foodborne illness.

Is there something that can be done to make it safer?

As it turns out, yes. There is. But like everything, it comes at a cost. Will these activities raise the price dramatically? Or are there ways to increase safety while still minimizing the impact on cost to the producer and ultimately the consumer?

Let’s talk about netted melons and find out. Is there a safer way to melon, or should we rethink our fruit?

Contributing Factors for Microbial Contamination in Netted Melons

Salmonella and Listeria, along with E. coli are some of the biggest concerns when it comes to netted melons. Of course, cross-contamination throughout the supply chain could transfer any number of bad bugs onto those precious cargo.

But for the most part, these aforementioned germs have been associated with previous outbreaks linked back to these juicy spheres.

But where do these miniscule microbes come from?

Surface Contamination

The surface contamination can be caused by contaminated water, contaminated soil, or even amendments added to the soil. Or a combination of all three. As the water splashes from the ground and onto the rind, bacteria who are along for the ride deposit onto the surface.

That is certainly an interesting commute.

From there, they begin colonizing like settlers heading west for gold! Just about every spot is ripe for the taking. Nooks and crannies provide ample space for them to grow and reproduce. They have plenty of room to spread out undetected.

The Root of the Problem

The root of the problem, can also be quite literally the “root.” Systemic contamination by physical damage to the root or blossom can allow microbial transfer from just about all of the above risk factors (contaminated water, contaminated soil, or amendments) to breach the delicious fruit in that way.

Handled with Care?

Then there is the other aspect of the supply chain. All the steps that handle the fruit along the way.

These fruity orbs must make it from A to B. From farm to table. But there are tons of steps in between. At each one of these steps during handling, processing, and transportation, contamination can occur.

In packing houses where millions of produce products from many different farms pass through each year, an uncaught environmental contaminant can wreak havoc across a whole distribution network.

How to Solve the Problem with Netted Melons

There is an obvious problem. So, how do we solve it?

Smooth out the netted structure? Bring in small sanding tools? Roll it across giant files? Dunk them in bleach? Give the squatting bacteria individually micro-type notices of eviction?

The costs and legal fees of that last one would be astronomical. Not to mention, bacteria can’t read.

So what do we do?

There are options.

Exercise Good Agricultural Practices

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is not just a concept, but a regulatory process. It involves sustainability, risk mitigation, and other aspects of agricultural management to keep our food supply running smoothly and safe.

One of these GAP’s that is already performed by most producers is routine sampling. Soil sampling, water sampling, and product sampling.

Unfortunately, this can be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. If microbe counts are low, low concentration contamination may not be detected. And sadly, all it takes is a small amount of Listeria to do catastrophic damage to a family.

Performing these sampling activities and testing for harmful microbes and increased intervals would be ideal. It would certainly increase the overhead cost, which may trickle down to the consumer. Those seasonal melons may go up a bit in cost. But if they are safer, would you be willing to pay the price.

Better Oversight on Good Manufacturing Practices

Just like GAP’s are at the farm level, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are – you guessed it – at the manufacturing level.

Environmental sampling, better sanitation controls, and other risk mitigation measures go a long way to minimize downline problems if one batch or farm brings in contamination.

These are also activities that are currently performed and regulated. However, their effectiveness must be addressed at the current level.

Alternate Endings for Risky Products

If risks cannot be overcome, perhaps there are alternate channels for these higher risk foods.

In other industries, higher risk foods undergo different processes. Milk and juices are pasteurized. Some foods are cooked.

An existing aspect of the melon industry could be the answer. Though they are also not without their faults.

The cut fruit industry provides additional sanitation and wash steps prior to diving into the flesh. These costs are mitigated by the increased cost and perceived value of having your fruit already in perfect pieces without having to figure out if you have a knife big enough or sharp enough to do the job.

The cut fruit industry has also had some germs slip through the cracks, as cut melons have been responsible for an out break or few. So this may not be end-all answer.

Perhaps a form of pasteurization technology for fresh foods should be discovered.

Scientists! I’m talking to you!!

To Melon or Not to Melon, That is the Question

While knowledge is power, and knowing is half the equation. Or something like that.

Does this newfound knowledge change your opinion on these round delights? I’m going to say, likely not.

And it shouldn’t.

Additional strides are being made to make our food supply safer each day. And armed with this knowledge, I hope that you decide to spend a little time scrubbing before breaking out the cutting board the next time you melon.

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If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “The Problem with Netted Melons Goes Further Than Rind Deep,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!

By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)