California lettuce named in E. coli outbreak probe
California lettuce named in E. coli outbreak probe
Michigan officials delivered some bad news to California leafy green growers Oct. 9 as they said that the E. coli outbreak that appears to have sickened over 40 people in the region is linked to California-grown lettuce.
Based on illness dates, shipping dates and delivery dates, Michigan authorities have narrowed the cause of the outbreak to California lettuce, according to Jennifer Holton, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Agriculture. State officials are focusing their investigation on Iceberg lettuce shipped during a span of a few days in mid-August.
At least 36 people in Michigan and six in Illinois have been stricken with E. coli O157:H7 poisoning since September, and Michigan officials named Detroit-based Aunt Mid's Produce Co. on Sept. 26 as the wholesaler that sold the industrial-sized shredded and chopped lettuce served in schools, a prison and other establishments.
"We are working with our California partners to zero in on the origin of the contamination," Ms. Holton told The Produce News.
Questions remain about the impact this news will have on companies that signed on to the 2007 California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement. Proponents maintain that no foodborne disease outbreaks have been associated with California leafy greens since the industry developed the agreement in the wake of the 2006 spinach-associated E. coli outbreak.
The news comes as the California marketing agreement's advisory board is scheduled to meet Oct. 10 in Santa Maria, CA.
In the meantime, Aunt Mid's released an Oct. 10 statement saying that Michigan officials concluded that the firm may immediately resume its packing and sale of Iceberg lettuce because all tests on the lettuce and its packing facility came back negative for E. coli.
"Aunt Mid's is pleased to issue this update of the state of Michigan test results which confirms the company's position that its products were not the source of the E. coli contamination," the company said in a statement. "All test results maintain and reinforce Aunt Mid's sterling reputation in the produce industry for product safety and integrity."
Based on illness dates, shipping dates and delivery dates, Michigan authorities have narrowed the cause of the outbreak to California lettuce, according to Jennifer Holton, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Agriculture. State officials are focusing their investigation on Iceberg lettuce shipped during a span of a few days in mid-August.
At least 36 people in Michigan and six in Illinois have been stricken with E. coli O157:H7 poisoning since September, and Michigan officials named Detroit-based Aunt Mid's Produce Co. on Sept. 26 as the wholesaler that sold the industrial-sized shredded and chopped lettuce served in schools, a prison and other establishments.
"We are working with our California partners to zero in on the origin of the contamination," Ms. Holton told The Produce News.
Questions remain about the impact this news will have on companies that signed on to the 2007 California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement. Proponents maintain that no foodborne disease outbreaks have been associated with California leafy greens since the industry developed the agreement in the wake of the 2006 spinach-associated E. coli outbreak.
The news comes as the California marketing agreement's advisory board is scheduled to meet Oct. 10 in Santa Maria, CA.
In the meantime, Aunt Mid's released an Oct. 10 statement saying that Michigan officials concluded that the firm may immediately resume its packing and sale of Iceberg lettuce because all tests on the lettuce and its packing facility came back negative for E. coli.
"Aunt Mid's is pleased to issue this update of the state of Michigan test results which confirms the company's position that its products were not the source of the E. coli contamination," the company said in a statement. "All test results maintain and reinforce Aunt Mid's sterling reputation in the produce industry for product safety and integrity."
