Industry awaits information about E. coli episode
Industry awaits information about E. coli episode
SALINAS, CA -- Health officials and the fresh produce industry are awaiting further word about the cause of an episode in Washington state where 10 people were sickened by an E. coli O157:H7 infection between mid-May and May 29.
Though inconclusive, Washington state health officials have pointed to Romaine lettuce as a possible source of the E. coli.
Six of those who fell ill were Pierce County residents. Though none of the illnesses were life-threatening, two Pierce County residents were hospitalized but were recovering, said Joby Winans, a Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spokesman.
Tim Church, communications director for the Washington state Department of Health, told The Produce News June 11 that there had been no new cases reported in connection with this episode. He confirmed that the Food & Drug Administration is involved with the investigation.
The majority of those sickened "had talked about eating [Romaine] lettuce," Mr. Church said. The episode had passed and in terms of monitoring people who got sick, there didn't seem to be any more to do, he said.
Mr. Church said that in Thurston County, where all four victims are teenagers, a letter went home to parents at two different schools. He said that the Washington state Department of Health has fielded its share of calls but that the department also had been aggressive about getting information out to the public.
No lettuce was tested, and of the Washington residents sickened in this episode who said they ate Romaine lettuce, the lettuce was sold through foodservice operators and not through retail outlets.
Ms. Winans said that she did not have detailed information about the victims, but noted that the "outbreak is over." She told The Produce News Monday, June 9, that officials would "probably never know" what made people sick. Although she would not divulge the locations where people were sickened, she did say that three Pierce County residents were linked to one restaurant and three others were linked to the same college.
Dennis Donohue, chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, the mayor of Salinas and president of Royal Rose, a Salinas-based grower-shipper specializing in radicchio, confirmed that if Romaine lettuce is determined to be involved in this episode, the Salinas Valley would be the likely source of the lettuce.
"There's a suspicion that has not been confirmed," Mr. Donohue said, including where and how any food in question was served.
"Nobody can react to speculation," Mr. Donohue said. "There's no specific conclusions to work with at this moment."
Mr. Donohue said that there is "no letting up on efforts" by handlers in the Salinas Valley to provide safe food.
Jim Bogart, president of Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said that the E. coli episode in Washington appears to be "very limited in scope."
As of Monday, June 9, the episode had not generated a lot of calls to his office, Mr. Bogart said. "We're keeping our association partners in the loop," he added.
In a newsletter distributed to association members on June 11, Mr. Bogart wrote that the association "is monitoring the recent E. coli outbreak in Washington state with care and concern for those who have been sickened. Health officials are saying this outbreak is over. Washington state health officials have not announced a definitive link to any source of this outbreak."
Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement, told The Produce News June 9 that he has sympathy for the people who were sickened but that the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement does not have much of a role in the direct investigation of the circumstances in Washington state.
"Everybody's got some level of awareness," Mr. Horsfall said. "As an industry and organization, we are pleased to hear it appears to be over."
Though inconclusive, Washington state health officials have pointed to Romaine lettuce as a possible source of the E. coli.
Six of those who fell ill were Pierce County residents. Though none of the illnesses were life-threatening, two Pierce County residents were hospitalized but were recovering, said Joby Winans, a Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department spokesman.
Tim Church, communications director for the Washington state Department of Health, told The Produce News June 11 that there had been no new cases reported in connection with this episode. He confirmed that the Food & Drug Administration is involved with the investigation.
The majority of those sickened "had talked about eating [Romaine] lettuce," Mr. Church said. The episode had passed and in terms of monitoring people who got sick, there didn't seem to be any more to do, he said.
Mr. Church said that in Thurston County, where all four victims are teenagers, a letter went home to parents at two different schools. He said that the Washington state Department of Health has fielded its share of calls but that the department also had been aggressive about getting information out to the public.
No lettuce was tested, and of the Washington residents sickened in this episode who said they ate Romaine lettuce, the lettuce was sold through foodservice operators and not through retail outlets.
Ms. Winans said that she did not have detailed information about the victims, but noted that the "outbreak is over." She told The Produce News Monday, June 9, that officials would "probably never know" what made people sick. Although she would not divulge the locations where people were sickened, she did say that three Pierce County residents were linked to one restaurant and three others were linked to the same college.
Dennis Donohue, chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, the mayor of Salinas and president of Royal Rose, a Salinas-based grower-shipper specializing in radicchio, confirmed that if Romaine lettuce is determined to be involved in this episode, the Salinas Valley would be the likely source of the lettuce.
"There's a suspicion that has not been confirmed," Mr. Donohue said, including where and how any food in question was served.
"Nobody can react to speculation," Mr. Donohue said. "There's no specific conclusions to work with at this moment."
Mr. Donohue said that there is "no letting up on efforts" by handlers in the Salinas Valley to provide safe food.
Jim Bogart, president of Salinas-based Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, said that the E. coli episode in Washington appears to be "very limited in scope."
As of Monday, June 9, the episode had not generated a lot of calls to his office, Mr. Bogart said. "We're keeping our association partners in the loop," he added.
In a newsletter distributed to association members on June 11, Mr. Bogart wrote that the association "is monitoring the recent E. coli outbreak in Washington state with care and concern for those who have been sickened. Health officials are saying this outbreak is over. Washington state health officials have not announced a definitive link to any source of this outbreak."
Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement, told The Produce News June 9 that he has sympathy for the people who were sickened but that the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement does not have much of a role in the direct investigation of the circumstances in Washington state.
"Everybody's got some level of awareness," Mr. Horsfall said. "As an industry and organization, we are pleased to hear it appears to be over."
