An Industry Affected

Just as I sat down at my computer to write this month’s column my e-mail dinged – letting me know I had a new message. Hoping it wasn’t another unwanted junk mail, I clicked open the mail program only to find yet another announcement of a food-borne illness outbreak linked to produce. This time, the alert came from PMA. And it was informing members that FDA had traced an outbreak of Salmonella to tomatoes eaten in restaurants. While at the point of the e-mail there was no risk to public health, the outbreak had sickened 98 people in 19 states.

The e-mail also stated that the strain of Salmonella identified in this outbreak was not the same as the one identified in the earlier outbreak of Salmonella in tomatoes eaten in restaurants.

In this e-mail there also was news about a voluntary recall of cantaloupes caused by Salmonella contamination. This recall resulted from an FDA sampling program revealing that a portion of the melons tested positive for the bacteria. In this case, there were no instances of illness reported, and this was not an outbreak. PMA is calling this a “clear example of the food safety system working properly,” as the recall was made based on lab tests – before anyone was sickened.

These two are just a couple of the various recalls and outbreaks in the news lately. This recent outbreak of outbreaks and recalls shows that the produce industry – though making progress – still has a way to go until it is providing consumers with the safest possible product. Since these outbreaks, there have been many companies that have stepped up and taken action – increasing their diligence and making sure they’re doing the best they can. There also are those demanding it of others.

This month, Scott Christie reports on a group of produce buyers who have joined forces to encourage the industry to develop new food safety practices. Among these are grocery chains and foodservice distributors. The group wrote a letter to the industry’s associations outlining steps to ensure lettuce and leafy greens are safe. They gave the industry a deadline of Dec. 15 for these guidelines, and asked that the guidelines be expanded by Feb. 15 for additional produce products.

This is just one of many examples of people – from consumers to buyers – asking the produce industry to step up and take responsibility. The guidance documents created earlier this year were a great first step. Now comes the hard part: putting them into action. Both PMA and United Fresh have said they are working on creating measurable standards and guidelines that are verifiable. But it has to happen in all parts of the supply chain – in the field, on the truck, in the packing and processing plants and in the grocery aisles.

It is apparent that these outbreaks and recalls have shown the industry that something needs to happen. And it needs to be an industry-wide effort because it has industry-wide implications.



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