A recent report by the FDA claims that imported Honduran melons have been responsible for fifty cases of salmonella across sixteen states and parts of Canada. Although there are no reported casualties, the incident has certainly affected the lives of the 1,500 workers who were fired after the Honduran company was forced to stop shipments to the United States. The matter is serious enough to compel the president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, to eat a melon on television in order to downplay fears of contaminated melon. He claims that the FDA’s claims are an error, but, in reality, the damage has already been done as it will take more than a brave stunt to restore confidence among US importers. This incident underscores the importance of agriculture for the economies of Latin America.
The video of Zelaya enjoying a melon:
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