|
Demanding info on E.coli outbreak
Story Date: 1/11/2018
| |
Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 1/10/18
As news reports circulate about a deadly E. coli outbreak that has killed at least two people and appears to trace back to romaine lettuce, FSMA champion Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) wants to hear from federal agencies about how they are tackling the issue.
How the U.S. matches up to Canada: In a letter sent to CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald, DeLauro pointed out that it took the agency nearly a month and a half to call attention to the outbreak, on Dec. 28, after the first infection was identified. By comparison Canada, which had a similar outbreak with a strain of E. coli that is a "virtual genetic match" to the one in the U.S. cases, issued the first public health notice Dec. 11, followed by three updates that month.
While the Canadian government has posted "full epidemiological information" on its website, DeLauro said the CDC has posted only one news release. The most comprehensive news in the U.S. appears to be coming from Consumer Reports, which published an article on Friday encouraging consumers to avoid eating all romaine lettuce until there is more definitive information about the U.S.'s investigation.
What industry groups are doing: Produce industry groups have banded together to ensure that romaine lettuce continues to be sold, citing the lack of information from the CDC. Groups like the Produce Marketing Association released a statement Thursday saying: "No public agency has contacted any romaine lettuce grower, shipper or processor and requested that they either stop shipping or recall product already in the marketplace."
Bob Whitaker, chief science and technology officer at the Produce Marketing Association, wrote to industry members in an email shared with POLITICO, saying that various groups including the United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers have been working together "to encourage government agencies to declare this outbreak over."
Bill Marler's take: Food safety lawyer Bill Marler told your host that based on the length of the outbreak, it would be reasonable for CDC to issue some warnings to vulnerable populations like "children, pregnant women, people on immunosuppressant drugs or the elderly." He added: "It appears to be more than a one-off spike event. It appears to have gone on for a longer time."
|
|
|
|
