FBI probe adds new twist to spinach investigation
FBI probe adds new twist to spinach investigation
WASHINGTON -- While some Salinas Valley growers are already implementing new food-safety measures in hopes of resuming consumer and buyer confidence in spinach, consumer confidence in the produce industry may be shattered again with news that the Federal Bureau of Investigation served search warrants Oct. 4 at the Salinas Valley offices of Natural Selection Foods and Growers Express in connection with the E. coli spinach outbreak.
Agents of the FBI and the Food & Drug Administration searched Growers Express in Salinas, CA, and Natural Selections Foods in San Juan Batista, CA, the embattled company at the center of the outbreak investigation.
"I want to reassure the public that there is no indication in this investigation that leaf spinach was deliberately or intentionally contaminated," said Kevin Ryan, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California. Details of the investigation are under seal.
"We are investigating allegations that certain spinach growers and distributors may not have taken all necessary or appropriate steps to ensure that their spinach was safe before it was placed into interstate commerce," said Mr. Ryan. "Moreover, the investigation has not revealed any evidence of a new or continuing threat to public health in connection with the matters under investigation."
According to an article in The New York Times, investigators also visited Primus Labs in Santa Maria, CA, which conducts routine testing for E. coli for growers. While refusing to comment specifically on the inquiry, Juan Muniz, operations manager for Primus, said that one of the challenges for the industry is the lack of definitive rules on what is an acceptable E. coli level.
"I can eat something where my immune system is not affected, but my son or my father -- one or two colonies [of E. coli] could affect them," Mr. Muniz told the Times.
"FDA continues to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI to determine the facts behind this outbreak," Robert Brackett, director of the FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, said in a statement.
"A full and complete investigation needs to take place, and if the authorities feel that they have the need to use a search warrant for documents, we support that too," said Amy Philpott, spokesman for the United Fresh Produce Association. "We all want the most thorough resolution of this matter."
As the investigation continues, the Produce Marketing Association is busy assessing the financial impact of the spinach and consumer confidence data. Sales data from retailers and foodservice are not available yet, said PMA's Kathy Means, but the group has released polling data from primary shoppers that show about one-quarter of those who bought bagged spinach over the past year would think twice about buying the product again.
"That's somewhat encouraging," she said.
Growers are anxiously awaiting a public-relations campaign to open the shuttered spinach market. Sources said the industry has been in talks with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) about producing spinach ads. But before the groups can launch a public-relations campaign about the convenience and health benefits of bagged spinach, they must first talk about all the industry is doing to guarantee the safety of fresh spinach.
This comes as California authorities announced that they are awaiting test results to see if E. coli O157:H7 samples found in nearby cattle is the same strain that caused the spinach outbreak, which has infected nearly 200 people in 26 states.
"We want a smoking gun," said Ms. Means. Every day the investigation closes in on the cause of the outbreak, and if authorities can find a cause that means the industry can use the "we can fix it message," she said.
While growers are shipping spinach, Ms. Means said that she has been writing letters appealing to Canada to lift its U.S. spinach ban, particularly as the Food & Drug Administration lifted its blanket advisory.
A frequent question from trade association members is how long it will take for consumer confidence to return to the spinach market. Past outbreaks involving melons or green onions are not really a good marker because the scope of this outbreak is like nothing the industry has seen, said one industry insider. Continued publicity and subsequent hearings from FDA and California lawmakers are likely to delay market recovery.
As part of the short-term action plan, produce trade associations for the past two weeks have been working with FDA and growers on expanded food-safety guidelines for California growers in the three-county affected area. These may become the standard of practice for all spinach growers.
The new standard includes preharvest inspection in the field and 'super scrub' techniques that go beyond current sanitation guidelines at processing plants and on harvesting equipment. Soil, water, soil amendments and equipment surfaces must be controlled for E. coli O157:H7, and the last line of defense may include testing of raw materials before harvest.
The food-safety technical document is just one part of the plan, which also includes long-term calls for more research and traceability upgrades.
"The beauty of voluntary guidelines is that these changes can be implemented right away," said Tim Chelling, spokesman for Western Growers Association. "Some people are already doing these things."
Growers will need to endure they're following the guidelines diligently. "When followed properly, [good agricultural practices] and HACCP work," said Ms. Philpott.
She said that it is unclear how much spinach will be planted this year in Yuma, AZ, as some growers are waiting and some are going forward. It all depends on the particular buyer-seller relationship.
FDA announced it will be holding a hearing on the safety of leafy greens once the outbreak investigation is completed.
Agents of the FBI and the Food & Drug Administration searched Growers Express in Salinas, CA, and Natural Selections Foods in San Juan Batista, CA, the embattled company at the center of the outbreak investigation.
"I want to reassure the public that there is no indication in this investigation that leaf spinach was deliberately or intentionally contaminated," said Kevin Ryan, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California. Details of the investigation are under seal.
"We are investigating allegations that certain spinach growers and distributors may not have taken all necessary or appropriate steps to ensure that their spinach was safe before it was placed into interstate commerce," said Mr. Ryan. "Moreover, the investigation has not revealed any evidence of a new or continuing threat to public health in connection with the matters under investigation."
According to an article in The New York Times, investigators also visited Primus Labs in Santa Maria, CA, which conducts routine testing for E. coli for growers. While refusing to comment specifically on the inquiry, Juan Muniz, operations manager for Primus, said that one of the challenges for the industry is the lack of definitive rules on what is an acceptable E. coli level.
"I can eat something where my immune system is not affected, but my son or my father -- one or two colonies [of E. coli] could affect them," Mr. Muniz told the Times.
"FDA continues to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI to determine the facts behind this outbreak," Robert Brackett, director of the FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, said in a statement.
"A full and complete investigation needs to take place, and if the authorities feel that they have the need to use a search warrant for documents, we support that too," said Amy Philpott, spokesman for the United Fresh Produce Association. "We all want the most thorough resolution of this matter."
As the investigation continues, the Produce Marketing Association is busy assessing the financial impact of the spinach and consumer confidence data. Sales data from retailers and foodservice are not available yet, said PMA's Kathy Means, but the group has released polling data from primary shoppers that show about one-quarter of those who bought bagged spinach over the past year would think twice about buying the product again.
"That's somewhat encouraging," she said.
Growers are anxiously awaiting a public-relations campaign to open the shuttered spinach market. Sources said the industry has been in talks with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) about producing spinach ads. But before the groups can launch a public-relations campaign about the convenience and health benefits of bagged spinach, they must first talk about all the industry is doing to guarantee the safety of fresh spinach.
This comes as California authorities announced that they are awaiting test results to see if E. coli O157:H7 samples found in nearby cattle is the same strain that caused the spinach outbreak, which has infected nearly 200 people in 26 states.
"We want a smoking gun," said Ms. Means. Every day the investigation closes in on the cause of the outbreak, and if authorities can find a cause that means the industry can use the "we can fix it message," she said.
While growers are shipping spinach, Ms. Means said that she has been writing letters appealing to Canada to lift its U.S. spinach ban, particularly as the Food & Drug Administration lifted its blanket advisory.
A frequent question from trade association members is how long it will take for consumer confidence to return to the spinach market. Past outbreaks involving melons or green onions are not really a good marker because the scope of this outbreak is like nothing the industry has seen, said one industry insider. Continued publicity and subsequent hearings from FDA and California lawmakers are likely to delay market recovery.
As part of the short-term action plan, produce trade associations for the past two weeks have been working with FDA and growers on expanded food-safety guidelines for California growers in the three-county affected area. These may become the standard of practice for all spinach growers.
The new standard includes preharvest inspection in the field and 'super scrub' techniques that go beyond current sanitation guidelines at processing plants and on harvesting equipment. Soil, water, soil amendments and equipment surfaces must be controlled for E. coli O157:H7, and the last line of defense may include testing of raw materials before harvest.
The food-safety technical document is just one part of the plan, which also includes long-term calls for more research and traceability upgrades.
"The beauty of voluntary guidelines is that these changes can be implemented right away," said Tim Chelling, spokesman for Western Growers Association. "Some people are already doing these things."
Growers will need to endure they're following the guidelines diligently. "When followed properly, [good agricultural practices] and HACCP work," said Ms. Philpott.
She said that it is unclear how much spinach will be planted this year in Yuma, AZ, as some growers are waiting and some are going forward. It all depends on the particular buyer-seller relationship.
FDA announced it will be holding a hearing on the safety of leafy greens once the outbreak investigation is completed.
