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The United Fresh Produce Association is offering two workshops on the Foreign Supplier Verification Program in coming weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked 18 more cases to the E. coli outbreak attributed to chopped romaine from Arizona, bringing the total to 53.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends consumers, retailers and restaurants avoid all romaine lettuce from Arizona.

There are differences between the current E. coli outbreak and outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada in December, but there is a sense of déjà vu as product disappears from shelves despite the lack of an official recall.

Growers, marketers, buyers, researchers and others will be taking a comprehensive look at production practices as part of the new Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force.

Four more deaths have been reported in connection with the E. coli outbreak linked to Arizona romaine.

Of course, it’s not just consumer groups that are frustrated with the lack of traceback success with the Yuma-E. coli-romaine lettuce connection.

The Food and Drug Administration is urging the produce industry and various organizations studying how E. coli came into contact with romaine grown in Yuma, Ariz., to continue working with the agency on the issue.

Federal agencies are asking romaine lettuce shippers to stop packing and selling their product as a second E. coli outbreak traced to the lettuce is under investigation.

Industry associations have responded to an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine, asking growers and shippers to “make a hard, convincing and clean break” until the outbreak is declared over.