FOOD SAFETY
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:29:56 GMT
Salmonella Outbreak Now Largest In US History
By Michael R. Machi
The ongoing salmonella outbreak that has sickened so many has now surpassed 1,000 victims.
Investigators now claim peppers caused some cases of Salmonella.
``The accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeno peppers caused some illnesses, but that they do not explain all illnesses,'' the CDC said. ``Raw tomatoes, fresh serrano peppers, and fresh cilantro also remain under investigation.''
When and where will this seemingly never ending nightmare end?
In order to protect our food supply, we must address vulnerability gaps in our current system at any point along the distribution chain up to the consumer that would allow accidental contamination of fresh produce.
In 2003 more than 600 people fell ill from hepatitis A-tainted green onions served at a Chi-Chi's restaurant. Four victims would later die.
In the Chi-Chi's case, the FDA found four Mexican farms did not follow food safety guidelines. The guidelines are voluntary for U.S. firms, but the FDA has banned imports from those farms until they comply, said spokesman Michael Herndon.
Chi-Chi's is long gone as is food processor Coronet Foods, formally of Wheeling, W.Va., after Roma tomatoes it supplied sickened more than 300 who ate at Sheetz convenience stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia in 2004.
I spent years as an Executive Vice President for a major terminal business on the East Coast. My primary responsibility was purchasing millions of dollars in California vegetables a year, including Mexico during the winter and I have never seen anything like this.
I notified the CDC in late 2003 that green onions were the likely source of the hepatitis A outbreak and that they were from Mexico, several days before the FDA banned the importation of green onions into the United States.
I personally did business with Coronet foods. Quality and freshness was a priority.
The FDA found no trace of salmonella bacteria in question at Coronet's plant where the tomatoes were processed for distribution.
If and when the FDA concludes its investigation, the findings will be interesting. Where the tainted produce originated and its path traveled along the fresh produce supply chain prior to infection.
About the Author
Michael R. Machi is a former Vice President for Consumers Produce in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, a major produce terminal business on the East Coast. His primary responsibility in addition to VP of Business Analyst was purchasing millions of dollars in California vegetables, including Mexico.
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