The Major Aldi Food Recall That Led To Deaths And Hospitalizations

Cantaloupe is a sweet, refreshing addition to any breakfast plate — here are tips on how to pick a perfect specimen – but, in late 2023, eating cantaloupe from Aldi sent an unknown number of people to the hospital, and may even have been implicated in several deaths. Between October and late December 2023, the CDC identified 407 people between 44 U.S. states who became infected with salmonella poisoning after eating pineapple and Mexican cantaloupe bearing the labels "Malachita" or "Rudy." Of that number, at least 158 people were hospitalized for their symptoms, and six known deaths were reported. The recall was so far-reaching that the CDC actually advised American consumers to dispose of any cantaloupe they had in their homes, regardless of where they bought it.

Multiple stores sold the affected cantaloupes, but Aldi was positioned prominently in the outbreak, with whole cantaloupes and packaged fruit being included in the recall. The fruit was sold between October 27 and 31 at certain Aldi locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It's unknown exactly what number of the overall hospitalizations and deaths stemmed from fruit specifically purchased from Aldi. Salmonella, a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal upset that can become severe, especially in children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, sends some 26,500 Americans every year to the hospital.

Food recalls can be alarming, but increasing food recalls in recent years actually point to something positive: Ever-improving technology for early identification of potential problems, many of which can be headed off before consumers actually become ill. You may have noticed in July 2024 that Aldi and Walmart issued a sweeping produce recall due to possible listeria concerns. Peppers, cucumbers, and cilantro were just some of the items affected, among a large number of others. In that case, an enormous recall probably saved folks from illness, as no hospitalizations or deaths were reported.

Aldi's product recall page lists a number of recalls ranging in breadth and severity from major to minor. Not all recalls have to do with contamination. Atlantic salmon was recalled in May 2025 due to the fact that it might have contained undeclared soy, a potential allergen. Silicone baby spoons were pulled off shelves in December 2024 as a potential choking hazard. Of course, E.coli and listeria risks happen: Baby carrots were recalled over the former in November 2024, and soft ripened brie during the same month for the latter. Overall, there's no reason to assume that your Aldi groceries aren't safe, however, even if significant recalls happen. Usually, the scale of these recalls are based on an abundance of caution, even if the cantaloupe fiasco was a particularly big deal.