Spinach industry looking to go forward
Spinach industry looking to go forward
WASHINGTON -- Members of the produce industry are meeting with state and federal regulators Sept. 19 in California to discuss where to go from here in the wake of the massive outbreak that has shut down the spinach market nationwide.
Though the produce industry continues to recognize the urgency of protecting public health, the United Fresh Produce Association says it's eager to find a way to reopen the market, perhaps on an interim basis.
In a Sept. 19 press conference, United's Amy Philpott said that its immediate response to the crisis was a public health one, but now regulators and the industry can begin discussing the next steps to salvage the $200-million-a- year spinach market.
With Food & Drug Administration investigators homing in on California farms, perhaps FDA could look at returning to the market spinach grown in other regions, she suggested. Spinach production is now shifting to Yuma, AZ.
"Our preference is to have the entire market open," she said, adding that the industry is floating several options with regulators. Another option is to allow products back on the market based on best-used dates.
Since last Thursday when the outbreak began, United Fresh's crisis management staff has been briefing congressional committees on the issue, fielding media calls, updating members and creating a spinach information web site. Ms. Philpott said that her group is compiling numbers to estimate the economic impact of the spinach outbreak, including the labor and agricultural impact. "At this point, the damage will be significant," she said.
FDA continues to engage in daily press conferences to update reporters on the latest information about the outbreak. As of Sept. 18, 114 cases of illness have been reported, including 18 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, 60 hospitalizations and one death. Another death is being investigated, said FDA.
The outbreak has grown to 21 confirmed states: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
With spinach off the market for the past week, the produce industry is hoping to see the number of E. coli cases decline.
The two companies involved in recalls at this time are River Ranch in Salinas, CA, and Natural Selections Foods LLC in San Juan Bautista, CA.
Once the outbreak is over and products return to the market, the industry will begin the arduous task of trying to restore consumer confidence in bagged spinach products. "We will communicate to consumers what we are doing to make it safe," said Ms. Philpott. Much will depend on whether investigators pinpoint the cause of the contamination.
Though the produce industry continues to recognize the urgency of protecting public health, the United Fresh Produce Association says it's eager to find a way to reopen the market, perhaps on an interim basis.
In a Sept. 19 press conference, United's Amy Philpott said that its immediate response to the crisis was a public health one, but now regulators and the industry can begin discussing the next steps to salvage the $200-million-a- year spinach market.
With Food & Drug Administration investigators homing in on California farms, perhaps FDA could look at returning to the market spinach grown in other regions, she suggested. Spinach production is now shifting to Yuma, AZ.
"Our preference is to have the entire market open," she said, adding that the industry is floating several options with regulators. Another option is to allow products back on the market based on best-used dates.
Since last Thursday when the outbreak began, United Fresh's crisis management staff has been briefing congressional committees on the issue, fielding media calls, updating members and creating a spinach information web site. Ms. Philpott said that her group is compiling numbers to estimate the economic impact of the spinach outbreak, including the labor and agricultural impact. "At this point, the damage will be significant," she said.
FDA continues to engage in daily press conferences to update reporters on the latest information about the outbreak. As of Sept. 18, 114 cases of illness have been reported, including 18 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, 60 hospitalizations and one death. Another death is being investigated, said FDA.
The outbreak has grown to 21 confirmed states: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
With spinach off the market for the past week, the produce industry is hoping to see the number of E. coli cases decline.
The two companies involved in recalls at this time are River Ranch in Salinas, CA, and Natural Selections Foods LLC in San Juan Bautista, CA.
Once the outbreak is over and products return to the market, the industry will begin the arduous task of trying to restore consumer confidence in bagged spinach products. "We will communicate to consumers what we are doing to make it safe," said Ms. Philpott. Much will depend on whether investigators pinpoint the cause of the contamination.
