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Consumers have been warned against eating rockmelon after a listeria outbreak forced the fruit from supermarket shelves this week.

Ten cases of listeria from contaminated rockmelon have been identified in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

The fruit has been linked to two deaths in NSW and was distributed to Coles supermarkets and independent fruit and vegetable stores in South Australia.

Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune systems have been advised not to eat rockmelon – as a precautionary measure – after the fruit was linked to an infection outbreak in NSW.

Health authorities are working to ensure the contaminated fruit is removed from the supply chain.

The NSW grower linked to the outbreak voluntarily ceased production last Friday.

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Australia's environment ministers have declared packaging reform urgent and named soft plastics as an initial priority, but offered no firm timetable or regulatory commitments. SPSA has welcomed the soft plastics focus, while Boomerang Alliance and WMRR have raised concerns about the lack of concrete action.

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A cross-sector open letter is urging national leaders to agree on a pathway for regulated producer responsibility schemes at the September Environment Ministers Meeting.