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Finger-pointing as Probe Into Poison Cantaloupes Intensifies (Credit: News21-usa via Flickr)

A potential congressional investigation and multiple death lawsuits are looming against a Colorado farm where one of the most deadly U.S. food poisonings ever has been traced.

Southeastern Colorado’s Jensen Farms has been named as the source of a mass food poisoning via the cantaloupes it produces. As of this report, 25 people have died from listeria-tainted product. More deaths may come from the outbreak.

The Denver Post reported that an independent audit of the Jensen company days before the deadly cantaloupes were shipped gave the plant 96/100, failing to notice the unsafe practices. In the report, the company – representing a major buyer – noted that chlorinated water was not used in preparation of the cantaloupe, which should have raised a red flag.

“The absence of use of chlorine in the water as the melons were being washed was an extraordinarily unfortunate decision,” said Trevor Suslow, a University of California-Davis food-safety and melon expert.

Primus Labs hired a Texas subcontractor, BioFood, to perform the July audit. The Food Drug Administration performed separate audits. It remains to be seen how the multiple parties’ involvement will factor into the wrongful death lawsuits already leveled at Jensen. Also, a bipartisan U.S. Congressional committee sent Jensen Farms a letter requesting that they testify before a committee about the outbreak. A formal hearing on the matter is also a likelihood.

“We intend to learn more from the FDA, CDC, Jensen Farms, and others who may provide insight into the causes of this outbreak and the prevention of future outbreaks,” the letter read.

The tainted cantaloupe outbreak is currently the second most deadliest food poisoning in the U.S. in three decades. In 1998 another listeria outbreak killed 21, but in 1985 a listeria outbreak that affected Mexican-style cheese killed 52. Although the current outbreak has killed 25, because the illness has such a long gestation period, it can take two months for symptoms to manifest.