Opinion
The U.S. sprout industry probably viewed the Germany outbreak the way Californians viewed the tragic earthquake in Japan.
We’ve been through it before, and next time it’s here, it could be just as bad or worse.
Unlike earthquakes, though, U.S. sprout growers can do much more than they’re doing to avoid a situation like in Germany, where E. coli-contaminated organic sprouts killed nearly 40 and caused more than 3,000 illnesses.
U.S. sprout grower-shippers contacted in mid-June told us they’re confident their food safety practices have improved significantly in recent years and that thorough testing reduces the chances of contaminated product reaching the food supply.
However, many critics have pointed out dangerous pathogens are more difficult to eliminate in sprouts through current cleaning processes.
As a result, the Food and Drug Administration advises at-risk consumers to avoid sprouts.
The industry has made no clear move to embrace cleaning alternatives, such as irradiation, or form a group similar to the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, which began in the aftermath of the 2006 spinach E. coli outbreak. It is up to each sprout grower to follow food safety guidelines. That’s risky.
The problem for the produce industry, as we saw in Germany, is that when foodborne illnesses begin, media and consumers want answers, and sometimes authorities panic and name the wrong commodities as the cause.
The sprout industry needs to do everything it can to ship safe product and prove it to consumers and fellow produce companies.
At this point, they’re not doing that.
Did The Packer get it right? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.
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Comments (1)
Leave a commentJay Louie
Report AbuseThe sprout industry has been involved in food safety issue since 1996, long before the California Leafy Green Marketing Agreement. The sprout industry through their sprout association, International Sprout Growers Association (ISGA), has been working with the FDA with research and growing procedures that have scientific support to provide a safe food product. Your research really missed it completely.