The US Food and Drug Administration has linked a second Honduran exporter to the salmonella outbreak in cantaloupe melons that occurred earlier this year. Honduran daily Hondudiario quoted a radio interview with Adolfo Facussé, president of Honduras’ national industry association ANDI, in which he confirmed that the FDA claimed to have discovered contaminated melons at Sorauros after carrying out a widespread field investigation into the original outbreak.

The FDA and USDA have yet to publish the results of their investigation but are still refusing to clear Montelibano, the exporter originally blamed for the outbreak.

Mr Facussé said he was “very worried” about the latest development, claiming it threatened not just the melon industry but “all trade between the two countries”.

Separately, the FDA has ruled out banning chilli imports from Mexico after widening its investigation into the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak beyond tomatoes to peppers, onions, coriander and chillis.

“We wish to make it clear that the FDA is not suspending imports from Mexico, and that our focus is not exclusively on Mexican product but also that grown in the US,” said FDA spokesman Michael Herndon.

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