Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter, today wrote to A.G. Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture to express his concerns over the recent distribution of lettuce contaminated with salmonella to 48 states and Canada. Florez is the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Food-borne Illness and introduced legislation in the wake of deadly 2006 E. coli outbreaks linked to California leafy greens which would have mandated an improved inspection process and efficient traceback system. That legislation was shelved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee, which opted to wait and see how industry faired in its attempts to self-regulate, despite the industry’s previous lack of response to repeated outbreaks and calls for action from the federal Food and Drug Administration.
In his letter, Florez questions how the contaminated produce made it to store shelves before the danger was caught if leafy greens are being inspected as promised under the voluntary Leafy Green Marketing Agreement to which the distributor in question, Metz Fresh, is a signatory. Below is a copy of Florez’s letter to Kawamura.
***Letter Below***
August 30, 2007
A.G. Kawamura
Secretary
California Dept. of Food & Agriculture
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Secretary Kawamura:
I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the recent distribution of spinach contaminated with salmonella from a California farm. I understand that the contaminated spinach originated from Metz Fresh, which is a signatory to the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement program, which is under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Nearly one year has passed since the devastating E. coli outbreak from California grown spinach, and it is clear that California’s food safety measures are lacking, as is evidenced by the fact that we continue to distribute contaminated produce across the United States and Canada. Most troubling is the fact that, according to reports in the Bakersfield Californian, contaminated spinach was placed on shelves and was available for sale to consumers. This raises serious questions regarding the effectiveness of the current food safety program and signals the need for stronger regulation on the part of government.
In light of this incident it is necessary and appropriate for the Committee to better understand the current status of the food safety measures in place under the Leafy Green Marketing agreement. Accordingly, please provide the Committee with the following information:
1) An explanation as to why the contaminated spinach was not identified prior to being distributed to retailers and/or commercial food establishments and, more importantly, why it was not identified prior to being made available for purchase by consumers.
2) Whether the packaging containing the contaminated spinach bears the official seal of the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement. In the event that the packaging does not bear the seal, please provide an explanation as to why, given that the seal is the only manner for consumers to identify whether a grower is a signatory to the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement and was touted as a cornerstone of the agreement.
3) Whether Metz Fresh has been inspected pursuant to the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement. If so, please provide the date of the inspection and the results of the investigation, detailing any violations or shortcomings identified. Please provide any documents generated during the inspection process.
4) What specific actions will be taken by the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement in light of this incident.
5) The current status of the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement inspection and compliance program, including what percentage of processors and growers have been inspected to date, and the results of these inspections.
Given the seriousness of this breakdown in California’s food safety system please provide a response no later than 1 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2007.
Sincerely,
DEAN FLOREZ
Chair, Senate Select Committee on Food-Borne Illness
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Spinach recalled over salmonella fears
No immediate reports of illness linked to tainted product from California
The Associated Press
Updated: 12:38 p.m. PT Aug 29, 2007
WASHINGTON - A California produce company recalled bagged fresh spinach Wednesday after it tested positive for salmonella.
There were no immediate reports of illness linked to the tainted spinach, distributed by Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Calif. The recall comes nearly a year after an outbreak of another pathogen, E. coli, in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened another 200.
The recalled spinach was distributed throughout the 48 states and Canada and sold in both retail and food service packages. It covers 8,118 cases of spinach, although the company said more than 90 percent of that was on hold and would not be released.
While only a single sample from one of three packing lines tested positive for salmonella, the company said it moved to recall all the spinach packed that same day as a precaution.
The recall covers 10- and 16-ounce bags, as well as 4-pound cartons and cartons that contain four 2.5-pound bags, with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
Consumers with questions can contact Metz Fresh at 831-386-1018.
Last year’s E. coli outbreak prompted the Food and Drug Administration to warn Americans not to eat fresh bagged spinach. It later lifted that warning after tracing the contamination to spinach processed and packed by Natural Selection Foods LLC in San Juan Bautista, Calif.
The incident prompted stricter monitoring procedures by growers and processors and stepped-up inspections by California health officials.
Salmonella sickens about 40,000 people a year in the U.S. and kills about 600. It can cause diarrhea, fever, dehydration, abdominal pain and vomiting. Most cases of salmonella poisoning are caused by undercooked eggs and chicken.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20498998/
Consumers Again Faced With Spinach Recall
California Produce Company Announces Tainted Spinach
POSTED: 9:31 am PDT August 30, 2007
UPDATED: 10:12 am PDT August 30, 2007
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Health officials are warning Californians about another spinach recall, this time because of salmonella.
Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Calif., is recalling bags of fresh spinach after routine testing found traces of salmonella.
There have been no reports of people getting sick.
The recalled spinach was sold in 10- and 16-ounce bags, and 2 1/2- and 4-pound cartons in the U.S. and Canada with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
Consumers with questions can contact Metz Fresh at 831-386-1018.
If you bought the potentially tainted spinach, throw it away or return to the store where you purchased the item.
Last year's spinach recall was over Natural Selection Foods LLC product being tainted with E-coli.
http://www.turnto23.com/news/14012849/detail.html?treets=bak&tid=2658311549813&tml=bak_4pm&tmi=bak_4pm_1_06000408302007&ts=H
POSTED: 9:31 am PDT August 30, 2007
UPDATED: 10:12 am PDT August 30, 2007
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Health officials are warning Californians about another spinach recall, this time because of salmonella.
Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Calif., is recalling bags of fresh spinach after routine testing found traces of salmonella.
There have been no reports of people getting sick.
The recalled spinach was sold in 10- and 16-ounce bags, and 2 1/2- and 4-pound cartons in the U.S. and Canada with the following tracking codes: 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314.
Consumers with questions can contact Metz Fresh at 831-386-1018.
If you bought the potentially tainted spinach, throw it away or return to the store where you purchased the item.
Last year's spinach recall was over Natural Selection Foods LLC product being tainted with E-coli.
http://www.turnto23.com/news/14012849/detail.html?treets=bak&tid=2658311549813&tml=bak_4pm&tmi=bak_4pm_1_06000408302007&ts=H
Friday, August 3, 2007
Focus, Proactivity Key To U.S. FDA Food
Medical News Today: Focus, Proactivity Key To U.S. FDA Food Safety
In addition to an increasing amount of food products streaming into the country from an ever-expanding global market, consumers' expectations of safe food are also changing.
"Consumers demand a lot," said Acheson. "They are driving the global market and they want fresh, safe food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
A head of lettuce that requires at-home washing is off consumers' wish lists, he said. They want their lettuce shredded, bagged and delivered, and this shift in consumer habits is "adding a new dimension to potential food safety problems."
Acheson emphasized that communication with local agencies is crucial to getting the job done.
"We still have one of the safest food supplies in the world. Overall the
rate of foodborne illness and outbreaks are unchanged," he said, but consumers lack confidence that their food is still not as safe as it can be.
He attributes this dilemma to "getting the word out faster," adding that news media has been helpful in the effort to remove contaminated products from the shelf but not in "closing the loop in communication" to give the public follow-up coverage on the outcome.
"The media have to acknowledge that there is responsibility in industry."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78554.php
In addition to an increasing amount of food products streaming into the country from an ever-expanding global market, consumers' expectations of safe food are also changing.
"Consumers demand a lot," said Acheson. "They are driving the global market and they want fresh, safe food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
A head of lettuce that requires at-home washing is off consumers' wish lists, he said. They want their lettuce shredded, bagged and delivered, and this shift in consumer habits is "adding a new dimension to potential food safety problems."
Acheson emphasized that communication with local agencies is crucial to getting the job done.
"We still have one of the safest food supplies in the world. Overall the
rate of foodborne illness and outbreaks are unchanged," he said, but consumers lack confidence that their food is still not as safe as it can be.
He attributes this dilemma to "getting the word out faster," adding that news media has been helpful in the effort to remove contaminated products from the shelf but not in "closing the loop in communication" to give the public follow-up coverage on the outcome.
"The media have to acknowledge that there is responsibility in industry."
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78554.php
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