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The Icky Truth About Cantaloupe

The complex texture of the melon’s surface is the ultimate real estate for sickening microorganisms, with plenty of niches to latch onto and a large surface area for growth and expansion.,, While the smoother surfaces of honeydew melons and watermelons are a little less germ-friendly, outbreaks have been linked to these popular melon varieties, too. The good news? You can put a stop to the contamination in your kitchen. The fleshy part of the fruit is free of bacteria and viruses, unless you drag a knife through a dirty rind to slice it. With Dr. Bunning’s clinically tested tips for prepping a clean melon, you’ll enjoy them without unsavory side effects.

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Take Some Food Safety Precautions With Cantaloupe

Cantaloupes and other melons are coming into season. Unfortunately, cantaloupe has been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks, and the food safety issues can occur anywhere along the path from growing to processing to storage to your own kitchen. Cantaloupes have a netted skin that can trap bacteria. Cantaloupes are grown on the soil, so they can become contaminated by whatever is on the soil, or by the hands of workers who pick the fruit, or by numerous other issues.

The Health Benefits of Cantaloupe Prove It's a Summer Produce MVP

Beneath that hard, wart-y exterior is a soft and juicy orange interior — quite literally dripping with nutrients and health perks — that'll make you ask, "watermelon, who?" If cantaloupe isn't on your summer radar, you'll want to change that, stat. The warm-weather fruit is brimming with essential nutrients, from disease-fighting antioxidants to constipation-busting fiber. Cantaloupe is also surprisingly versatile; it tastes amazing frozen in ice pops, fresh off the rind, and even grilled as a dinner dish.

Beat the heat with heart-healthy cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon

A common misconception is that because melons contain natural sugar, they’re unhealthy. I can understand why people would think that – research has associated sugar consumption with heart disease. However, the association of heart disease with sugar consumption is for “added” sugars, not natural sugars like the fructose found in melons. For example, table sugar can increase triglyceride (a circulating lipid) levels. Added sugar also has been linked to lower levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).

Cantaloupe - To Eat or Not to Eat

·Clean cantaloupes and melons in general by scrubbing their surface with a clean produce brush under running water. Dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel before cutting.

Cantaloupe vs. honeydew: Which has more health benefits? A dietitian explains

Both cantaloupe and honeydew are low in calories and contain a range of nutrients, so either way, you can’t go wrong. Plus, both are rich in water, which can help you stay hydrated.

Insights on the Nutritional Profiling of Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) via 1-Naphthalene Acetic Acid

Overall, enhancing the nutritional components of cantaloupes via 1-NAA holds great potential for improving the nutritional profile and value of this popular fruit, thereby contributing to healthier food options and promoting well-being in the future.

Listeria and Cantaloupe: 6 Things You Need to Know

If you feel ill within two months of eating contaminated cantaloupe, see a physician immediately and make sure to tell your doctor about what you’ve eaten. In high-risk groups, including pregnant women, the bacteria can be fatal. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, however. Because listeria has such a long incubation period, experts at the CDC and FDA expect that more people will become ill, some seriously so, in the coming weeks.

Risks of eating cantaloupe

Even though you only eat the inner fruit of cantaloupes, it’s still a good idea to wash and rinse it. This way, you flush away possible contamination on the outside of the fruit. And to be safe, avoid the premade fruit party platters. “Pre-sliced containers of fruit or pre-cut melon halves are common sources of food poisoning,” warns Zumpano. “It’s safer to buy a whole cantaloupe, rinse it well and cut it up yourself at home.”

Why Are Cantaloupes Prone to Salmonella Contamination?

Cantaloupes could be contaminated with Salmonella while they're growing, or during harvest and handling, according to Teresa Bergholz, PhD, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University. Melons are grown close to the ground, and it's possible that cantaloupes are exposed to bacteria from soil, animals, or the water used for irrigation.

Why cantaloupe is a fruit you should avoid — recall or not — food safety expert says

Why should people avoid pre-cut cantaloupe? Is it particularly unsafe compared to the whole fruit? The reason why people shouldn’t eat pre-cut cantaloupe is that they would not know how long it has been since the cantaloupe was cut. You see, once the knife is drawn through the rind and onto the part we consume, any pathogens on the outside are now on the inside.

You should eat more cantaloupe this summer. Here's why

Cantaloupe is the hydrating, versatile healthy fruit that’s synonymous with summer. As you cut into a cantaloupe’s understated exterior, a vibrantly colored, orange center appears. From vitamin A to vitamin C, cantaloupe packs a punch with essential nutrients that can help support your immune and digestive systems, studies have shown.

Resources

4 Reasons To Love Melons Like Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Watermelon

Melons are a type of fruit that includes pumpkins and cucumbers, but the most commonly eaten varieties in the U.S. are watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. The health benefits and nutritional makeup of melons vary slightly depending on the type, but every melon is hydrating and packed with antioxidants like vitamin C. These nutrients support skin health and immunity.