August 28, 2018

Fresh Express convenes new panel to help solve cyclospora outbreaks

Fresh Express will form a Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel to be chaired by epidemiologist and infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm to study the cyclospora parasite, a cause of recent multiple fresh produce illness outbreaks in the U.S.

“Recent cyclospora outbreaks, with limited evidence as to how they originated, have perplexed federal and state public health officials as well as food safety experts throughout the fresh produce industry, including Fresh Express,” said John Olivo, president of Fresh Express. “The purpose of the Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel is to assemble an interdisciplinary group of independent scientific experts to better understand cyclospora’s mode of action and how the industry can better guard against future outbreaks.”

Osterholm said the panel will also provide a focused work group available to provide collaboration and support to investigators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health agencies, who are charged with understanding and solving the outbreaks.

“The cyclospora organism has contaminated certain fresh produce during spring and summer months, leaving public health officials unable to determine a confirmed origin despite their best efforts,” Osterholm said.  “Although the fresh produce industry works hard to ensure strong food safety standards, the yearly rounds of cyclospora outbreaks now demand industry-focused attention.”

The Fresh Express Blue-Ribbon Panel aims to address questions regarding the cyclospora parasite’s mode of transfer to fresh produce, seasonal or supply chain concerns and potential targeted mitigation strategies.

During the summer of 2018, the U.S. has seen several cyclospora clusters and despite intensive investigation, Fresh Express said, public health agencies have not yet been able to conclusively identify a confirmed origin for the outbreaks or to understand contamination pathways.

The full roster of panel members will be announced soon with a final report and recommendations planned for release in the first quarter of 2019.

 





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