Honduran melon shipper still on import alert
Honduran melon shipper still on import alert
Contrary to an Associated Press story on Sept. 2 and other published reports, the melon grower-exporter Agropecuaria Montelibano in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, remains on import alert.
The firm, which is owned by Miguel Molina, was put on import alert March 21 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration after its cantaloupes were deemed to be a source of a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak. At that time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in Atlanta had 58 reports of Salmonella poisoning in 16 states dating back to Jan. 10. Canada also had culture- confirmed Salmonella Litchfield infections in that time frame, according to the March 21 FDA report.
An FDA spokesman told The Produce News Sept. 3, "The import alert is still in place and on the [FDA] web site." That site is www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia2202.html.
The spokesman could not explain the reports to the contrary except to say there was apparently miscommunication. He did not know the exact date, but said that Mr. Molina "recently" met with the FDA. This was one of many meetings between Mr. Molina and the agency since March.
The FDA and Agropecuaria Montelibano have established criteria for the firm to resume normal export operations. These are:
-- The FDA needs to inspect Agropecuaria Montelibano during its actual harvesting and packing season to see the full operation to verify that corrective actions have been taken to prevent future cases of Salmonella contamination.
-- In addition to an on-site inspection, the firm needs for five Salmonella- free commercial shipments to arrive on U.S. soil. This will involve exporting product to the United States that is not immediately put into distribution. When the product is in the United States, a third party is to sample and test the product and then present the FDA with a full scientific analysis. The FDA will approve the sampling procedures and after five Salmonella-free samples (which can then be put on the market), the firm will be removed from import alert status.
-- In the time of inspecting the five shipped samples, the FDA has the option to collect audit samples beyond those of the third-party auditor.
The FDA spokesperson emphasized that Agropecuaria Montelibano must have five consecutive clean inspections. "If they get through three and then get a problem, they then go back to zero."
Referencing the Associate Press story, the spokesperson emphasized that beyond the criteria outlined above, "there is no agreement or deal about anything. There is no special fast-track way to get around that. This is just our criteria," which he said applies to similar cases.
The FDA visited the Honduran operation in the spring and determined that epidemiological evidence linked it to the Salmonella outbreak.
"It is a standard practice," said the spokesman. "If we identify a source of overseas product as being associated with an illness in the [United States], the firm gets placed on import alert until corrective action can be taken."
The firm, which is owned by Miguel Molina, was put on import alert March 21 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration after its cantaloupes were deemed to be a source of a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak. At that time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in Atlanta had 58 reports of Salmonella poisoning in 16 states dating back to Jan. 10. Canada also had culture- confirmed Salmonella Litchfield infections in that time frame, according to the March 21 FDA report.
An FDA spokesman told The Produce News Sept. 3, "The import alert is still in place and on the [FDA] web site." That site is www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia2202.html.
The spokesman could not explain the reports to the contrary except to say there was apparently miscommunication. He did not know the exact date, but said that Mr. Molina "recently" met with the FDA. This was one of many meetings between Mr. Molina and the agency since March.
The FDA and Agropecuaria Montelibano have established criteria for the firm to resume normal export operations. These are:
-- The FDA needs to inspect Agropecuaria Montelibano during its actual harvesting and packing season to see the full operation to verify that corrective actions have been taken to prevent future cases of Salmonella contamination.
-- In addition to an on-site inspection, the firm needs for five Salmonella- free commercial shipments to arrive on U.S. soil. This will involve exporting product to the United States that is not immediately put into distribution. When the product is in the United States, a third party is to sample and test the product and then present the FDA with a full scientific analysis. The FDA will approve the sampling procedures and after five Salmonella-free samples (which can then be put on the market), the firm will be removed from import alert status.
-- In the time of inspecting the five shipped samples, the FDA has the option to collect audit samples beyond those of the third-party auditor.
The FDA spokesperson emphasized that Agropecuaria Montelibano must have five consecutive clean inspections. "If they get through three and then get a problem, they then go back to zero."
Referencing the Associate Press story, the spokesperson emphasized that beyond the criteria outlined above, "there is no agreement or deal about anything. There is no special fast-track way to get around that. This is just our criteria," which he said applies to similar cases.
The FDA visited the Honduran operation in the spring and determined that epidemiological evidence linked it to the Salmonella outbreak.
"It is a standard practice," said the spokesman. "If we identify a source of overseas product as being associated with an illness in the [United States], the firm gets placed on import alert until corrective action can be taken."
