Leafy greens safety Web site launched

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

In the wake of E. coli outbreaks in California-grown produce that killed at least three people and sickened hundreds more, Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, has announced the creation of the Leafy Green Watch Web site, http://leafygreenwatch.blogspot.com/.

The blogspot will provide consumers and others with the opportunity to voice their opinions and to learn more about what Florez has called the dangers of a voluntary, industry-sponsored approach to food safety.

"Under the voluntary marketing agreement, consumers are certainly left in the dark about the safety of their produce,” said Florez, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Food-Borne Illness. “This blogspot is a real attempt to bring new and important information about the lack of mandatory enforcement of food safety laws and its consequences.”

He said the industry's voluntary marketing agreement among leafy green handlers is an attempt to head off mandatory regulations and enforcement. Signatories to the marketing agreement are afforded the opportunity to affix a stamp to the paperwork they present to retailers informing them that they have signed-on to the voluntary marketing agreement, which requires they only purchase produce from growers following new safety guidelines.

However, Florez said that current plans will not give customers the opportunity to see the seal, once touted by the industry as a landmark effort to inform consumers about the safety of their produce.

He also notes that the voluntary marketing agreement lacks a functional traceback system for tainted produce and doesn't provide health officials with the power to recall potentially tainted produce from store shelves.

http://thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NEWS01/70723015/1002