Questions linger about source, FDA handling of Salmonella outbreak
Questions linger about source, FDA handling of Salmonella outbreak
WASHINGTON -- The epidemiological evidence may point to tomatoes as the likely cause of the Salmonella outbreak, but health officials say they are "keeping an open mind" as new illnesses continue to be reported.
"We continue to see a strong epidemiological association with consumption of tomatoes," said Patricia Griffin, chief of the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. But produce investigations are very difficult because vegetables are often eaten together, Dr. Griffin said at a June 27 press briefing.
"We continue to have an open mind about the source of the outbreak, and so does FDA," she said. Dr. Griffin refrained from listing other ingredients that might be under suspicion.
As of June 27, 810 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella, and 95 people have been hospitalized from Salmonella Saintpaul infection. The last person added to the outbreak tally reported becoming sick June 15.
"Whatever this produce item is, it is possible it's still out there making people sick," said Dr. Griffin, who pointed to the June cases as evidence that the outbreak is ongoing.
In the meantime, Western Growers Association has asked for a congressional hearing on the outbreak investigation.
"Our industry has taken dramatic steps to develop the strongest practices possible to prevent contamination in the field and throughout the supply chain," said Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association. "Now it is time to look at how FDA 'intervenes' in the event of an outbreak and how they 'communicate' with the public and industry to ensure that public health is protected without the irreparable destruction of agricultural economies."
Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumers Services, told the Food & Drug Administration at a June 26 meeting that his department should have been "in the loop" in the investigation from the start and that early communication might have hastened the investigation, said Liz Compton, a spokesperson from the Florida department.
FDA did not realize that tomatoes were repacked, she said, and state experts could have educated FDA on this practice from the start.
Joined by U.S. Reps. Adam Putnam (R-FL) and Allan Boyd (D-FL)), Commissioner Bronson told FDA officials that he wanted to be briefed on a daily basis on the investigation. "Commissioner Bronson feels like the [Florida tomato] industry has gotten a black eye," said Ms. Compton.
But Florida-grown tomatoes are not the logical source of the outbreak because the state has the toughest production safety standards in the nation and no Floridian has gotten sick from tomatoes, except one person who health officials believe ate tomatoes in New York, she said. FDA is still investigating tomatoes grown in Florida and Mexico.
FDA inspectors, who were recently dispatched to Mexico and Florida, have analyzed an estimated 1,700 tomato samples from farms, packingsheds and distribution points, and "to date, every single one is negative" [for Salmonella Saintpaul]," said David Acheson, FDA's associate commissioner for foods. FDA is also conducting extensive testing of irrigation wells, storage containers and packinghouses.
Dr. Acheson said that FDA investigators are struggling with the industry's widespread practice of repacking tomatoes as well as with the practice of mixing different sourced tomatoes in the same cases. The traceback process is even more complex, he said, as FDA is learning that some in the tomato industry ship U.S.-grown tomatoes to Mexico for repacking and ship them back to the states with a U.S. label.
The longer the outbreak goes on, the more likely fields with be plowed over and other clues "will go cold," said Dr. Acheson.
"We would like to see a final outcome as quickly as possible," said Ms. Compton. "Our growers are losing money."
"We continue to see a strong epidemiological association with consumption of tomatoes," said Patricia Griffin, chief of the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. But produce investigations are very difficult because vegetables are often eaten together, Dr. Griffin said at a June 27 press briefing.
"We continue to have an open mind about the source of the outbreak, and so does FDA," she said. Dr. Griffin refrained from listing other ingredients that might be under suspicion.
As of June 27, 810 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella, and 95 people have been hospitalized from Salmonella Saintpaul infection. The last person added to the outbreak tally reported becoming sick June 15.
"Whatever this produce item is, it is possible it's still out there making people sick," said Dr. Griffin, who pointed to the June cases as evidence that the outbreak is ongoing.
In the meantime, Western Growers Association has asked for a congressional hearing on the outbreak investigation.
"Our industry has taken dramatic steps to develop the strongest practices possible to prevent contamination in the field and throughout the supply chain," said Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association. "Now it is time to look at how FDA 'intervenes' in the event of an outbreak and how they 'communicate' with the public and industry to ensure that public health is protected without the irreparable destruction of agricultural economies."
Charles Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumers Services, told the Food & Drug Administration at a June 26 meeting that his department should have been "in the loop" in the investigation from the start and that early communication might have hastened the investigation, said Liz Compton, a spokesperson from the Florida department.
FDA did not realize that tomatoes were repacked, she said, and state experts could have educated FDA on this practice from the start.
Joined by U.S. Reps. Adam Putnam (R-FL) and Allan Boyd (D-FL)), Commissioner Bronson told FDA officials that he wanted to be briefed on a daily basis on the investigation. "Commissioner Bronson feels like the [Florida tomato] industry has gotten a black eye," said Ms. Compton.
But Florida-grown tomatoes are not the logical source of the outbreak because the state has the toughest production safety standards in the nation and no Floridian has gotten sick from tomatoes, except one person who health officials believe ate tomatoes in New York, she said. FDA is still investigating tomatoes grown in Florida and Mexico.
FDA inspectors, who were recently dispatched to Mexico and Florida, have analyzed an estimated 1,700 tomato samples from farms, packingsheds and distribution points, and "to date, every single one is negative" [for Salmonella Saintpaul]," said David Acheson, FDA's associate commissioner for foods. FDA is also conducting extensive testing of irrigation wells, storage containers and packinghouses.
Dr. Acheson said that FDA investigators are struggling with the industry's widespread practice of repacking tomatoes as well as with the practice of mixing different sourced tomatoes in the same cases. The traceback process is even more complex, he said, as FDA is learning that some in the tomato industry ship U.S.-grown tomatoes to Mexico for repacking and ship them back to the states with a U.S. label.
The longer the outbreak goes on, the more likely fields with be plowed over and other clues "will go cold," said Dr. Acheson.
"We would like to see a final outcome as quickly as possible," said Ms. Compton. "Our growers are losing money."
