Three cases of cantaloupe shipment have been recalled because salmonella contamination reached Salinas, an official from a local store said.

According to the California Department of Public Health, the Sacramento-based Raley's grocery chain ordered the recall of 1,120 cartons of Del Monte cantaloupe last week after routine testing detected salmonella.

State officials confirmed that there have been no reports of illnesses till now.

Saul Cardona, assistant produce manager said, "At the Nob Hill store in south Salinas, the potentially tainted melons were immediately pulled from the shelves but not before some of them were purchased".

One cantaloupe was being sold for 69 cents a pound. Few more customers had called the store asking about the cantaloupe recall.

One woman had even bought it and kept it in the refrigerator and later discarded it for a refund.

Any other cantaloupe purchased at Nob Hill other than Del Monte should be safe for eating. The Salinas store has provided fliers at its fruit display counters explaining the recall.

Stores removed the cantaloupe from the shelves last week.