FDA to hold public meeting on sprout safety
FDA to hold public meeting on sprout safety
WASHINGTON - Sprouts continue to cause foodborne illnesses, despite the fact that the Food & Drug Administration released safety guidelines for the industry six years ago. Now FDA is holding a public meeting next month to start the process of writing mandatory regulations to stem the number of sprout-related outbreaks.
Since 1996, sprouts have been associated with 27 outbreaks, or 40 percent of all foodborne illnesses linked to fresh produce, according to FDA, which has issued several health advisories warning consumers about the risks of eating sprouts. Salmonella and E.coli have been discovered in U.S.-grown sprouts and foreign-grown seeds, and harmful bacteria on the seed can be spread by unsanitary conditions at the sprouting facility, said FDA.
But after FDA issued guidelines for sprouted seeds and irrigation water in 1999, the number of outbreaks linked to alfalfa and clover spouts appeared to drop. Not enough progress has been made for FDA food safety regulators, however, who are weighing the need to regulate the seed and sprout industry with new safety rules. Last year, alfalfa sprouts re-emerged as a safety problem, with five outbreaks in 2003 and two outbreaks in 2004.
This comes as no surprise. FDA announced that it would be looking into regulating sprouts when it released its 2004 produce action plan. The agency is holding the May 17 hearing at its headquarters in College Park, MD, to collect views on the best barriers that can prevent or minimize contamination. To date, safety efforts have focused on the sprouting facilities, and FDA said that it's looking for ways to reach out to the sprouting seed companies and their distributors.
Since 1996, sprouts have been associated with 27 outbreaks, or 40 percent of all foodborne illnesses linked to fresh produce, according to FDA, which has issued several health advisories warning consumers about the risks of eating sprouts. Salmonella and E.coli have been discovered in U.S.-grown sprouts and foreign-grown seeds, and harmful bacteria on the seed can be spread by unsanitary conditions at the sprouting facility, said FDA.
But after FDA issued guidelines for sprouted seeds and irrigation water in 1999, the number of outbreaks linked to alfalfa and clover spouts appeared to drop. Not enough progress has been made for FDA food safety regulators, however, who are weighing the need to regulate the seed and sprout industry with new safety rules. Last year, alfalfa sprouts re-emerged as a safety problem, with five outbreaks in 2003 and two outbreaks in 2004.
This comes as no surprise. FDA announced that it would be looking into regulating sprouts when it released its 2004 produce action plan. The agency is holding the May 17 hearing at its headquarters in College Park, MD, to collect views on the best barriers that can prevent or minimize contamination. To date, safety efforts have focused on the sprouting facilities, and FDA said that it's looking for ways to reach out to the sprouting seed companies and their distributors.
