[h=3]FDA investigation[/h]An investigation by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the contaminated cantaloupe harvest contained four separate
Listeria monocytogenes strains, which the governmental agency found to be "unusual", but was still trying to determine the reason.[SUP]
[19][/SUP] On October 20, it was reported that the FDA officials had found listeria on dirty, corroded equipment used by Jensen Farms, which had been bought used and was previously utilized for potato farming. It was stated by the government that the "equipment's past use may have played a role in the contamination".[SUP]
[20][/SUP]
Water contaminated with listeria was also found on the floor of the packing plant and it was determined that the workers moving around the plant had spread it, as the contaminated water was also found on the cantaloupe
conveyor belt. It was noted by officials that Jensen Farms had "passed a food safety audit by an outside contractor" six days before the outbreak.[SUP]
[21][/SUP]
The method of how the listeria bacteria first came to be in the plant remains unknown, as the soil on the farm was determined to be clear of the bacteria. It is suspected, however, that a "dump truck used to take culled melons to a cattle farm...could have brought bacteria to the facility".[SUP]
[21][/SUP][SUP]
[22][/SUP]
Furthermore, Bacteria growth may have been caused by condensation stemming from the lack of a pre-cooling step to remove field heat from the cantaloupe before cold storage.[SUP]
[23][/SUP][SUP]
[24][/SUP]
each:
