Print
Comment
Rate
Salmonella warning still exists for raw Mexican jalapeno and Serrano peppers
U.S. tomatoes safe
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended its consumer warning on Serrano peppers from Mexico.
The agency is advising that jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown in the United States are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak and consumers may feel free to eat them without concern of contamination, said Public Information Officer Karla Jensen with the Cochise County Health Department.
The FDA's advisory to avoid eating raw jalapeno and raw Serrano peppers, and foods that contain them, applies only to these types of peppers grown, harvested, or packed in Mexico.
In addition to domestically grown raw jalapeno and raw Serrano peppers, commercially canned, pickled and cooked jalapeno and Serrano peppers from any geographic location also are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, Jensen said in a statement issued Thursday.
Laboratory testing by the FDA has confirmed that both a sample of Serrano pepper and a sample of irrigation water collected by agency investigators on a farm in the state of Tamaulipas, Mex., (business address is in Nuevo Leon, Mex.) contain Salmonella Saintpaul with the same generic fingerprint as the strain of bacteria causing the current outbreak in the United States.
As a result, the FDA is advising consumers to avoid raw Serrano peppers from Mexico, in addition to raw jalapeno peppers from Mexico, and any foods that contain them, until further notice, Jensen said.
The results announced Thursday are part of the FDA's continuing intensive investigation into the outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul.
The investigation has involved tracing back, through complex distribution channels, the origins of products associated with clusters of illness in the U.S., as well as inspections and evaluation of farms and facilities in this country and in Mexico, and the collection and testing of environmental and product samples, she said.
One of these trace backs led to a packing facility in Mexico, and to a particular farm, where the agency obtained the samples.
Previously FDA inspectors collected a positive sample of jalapeno pepper from a produce-distribution center owned by Agricola Zaragosa in McAllen, Texas, said Jensen, adding that the FDA continues to work on pinpointing where and how in the supply chain this first positive jalapeno pepper sample became contaminated.
It had originated from a different farm in Mexico than the positive samples of Serrano pepper and irrigation water, she added.
The FDA is still analyzing many of the samples taken at various farms in Mexico. If laboratory results warrant, the agency will provide consumers with additional cautions or warnings necessary to protect their health, Jensen said Thursday.
On Thursday, July 17, the FDA announced it had determined that fresh tomatoes now available in the domestic market are not associated with the current outbreak.
As a result, the agency removed its June 7 warning against eating certain types of red raw tomatoes.
Locally, Eurofresh Farms also issued a statement on Thursday, reassuring its customers that its product quality safeguards "are some of the highest in the produce industry," which includes its watering practices.
"We want to assure you that consumer safety and product quality are our top priority at Eurofresh," said Sam Brace, the company's public relations contact.
"We adhere to some of the most stringent food handling practices in our industry, which includes monitoring, documenting, and analyzing all contact and water sources to ensure the purest produce."
Some of the water source inspection and safety safeguards Eurofresh takes include:
€ Growing tomatoes with water supplied from several wells, which are monitored regularly to ensure that no bacterial contamination is present.
€ Inspecting its water supply weekly to ensure it is safe.
Water quality assurance tests are executed quarterly to ensure the highest quality, said Brace, adding that a certified third party also checks the greenhouse water supply monthly.
€ Ensuring no water is used in the packing or processing of Eurofresh products.
Brace said that Eurofresh "has never experienced any reported food borne illness in our company's 16-year history," attributing it to the company's stringent standards as a greenhouse grower.
"We completely control the environment in which our products are propagated, nurtured, and handled," he said. "As the major source of contamination of any produce is often associated with human or animal feces or other fertilization, we virtually eliminate this potential with the use of targeted methods that provide nutrition directly to our products."
Brace said Thursday that even though the warning on U.S. grown tomatoes has been lifted, Eurofresh "will continue to carefully monitor and control all contact with its product, from inception to final delivery to our customers."
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended its consumer warning on Serrano peppers from Mexico.
The agency is advising that jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown in the United States are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak and consumers may feel free to eat them without concern of contamination, said Public Information Officer Karla Jensen with the Cochise County Health Department.
The FDA's advisory to avoid eating raw jalapeno and raw Serrano peppers, and foods that contain them, applies only to these types of peppers grown, harvested, or packed in Mexico.
In addition to domestically grown raw jalapeno and raw Serrano peppers, commercially canned, pickled and cooked jalapeno and Serrano peppers from any geographic location also are not connected with the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, Jensen said in a statement issued Thursday.
Laboratory testing by the FDA has confirmed that both a sample of Serrano pepper and a sample of irrigation water collected by agency investigators on a farm in the state of Tamaulipas, Mex., (business address is in Nuevo Leon, Mex.) contain Salmonella Saintpaul with the same generic fingerprint as the strain of bacteria causing the current outbreak in the United States.
As a result, the FDA is advising consumers to avoid raw Serrano peppers from Mexico, in addition to raw jalapeno peppers from Mexico, and any foods that contain them, until further notice, Jensen said.
The results announced Thursday are part of the FDA's continuing intensive investigation into the outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul.
The investigation has involved tracing back, through complex distribution channels, the origins of products associated with clusters of illness in the U.S., as well as inspections and evaluation of farms and facilities in this country and in Mexico, and the collection and testing of environmental and product samples, she said.
One of these trace backs led to a packing facility in Mexico, and to a particular farm, where the agency obtained the samples.
Previously FDA inspectors collected a positive sample of jalapeno pepper from a produce-distribution center owned by Agricola Zaragosa in McAllen, Texas, said Jensen, adding that the FDA continues to work on pinpointing where and how in the supply chain this first positive jalapeno pepper sample became contaminated.
It had originated from a different farm in Mexico than the positive samples of Serrano pepper and irrigation water, she added.
The FDA is still analyzing many of the samples taken at various farms in Mexico. If laboratory results warrant, the agency will provide consumers with additional cautions or warnings necessary to protect their health, Jensen said Thursday.
On Thursday, July 17, the FDA announced it had determined that fresh tomatoes now available in the domestic market are not associated with the current outbreak.
As a result, the agency removed its June 7 warning against eating certain types of red raw tomatoes.
Locally, Eurofresh Farms also issued a statement on Thursday, reassuring its customers that its product quality safeguards "are some of the highest in the produce industry," which includes its watering practices.
"We want to assure you that consumer safety and product quality are our top priority at Eurofresh," said Sam Brace, the company's public relations contact.
"We adhere to some of the most stringent food handling practices in our industry, which includes monitoring, documenting, and analyzing all contact and water sources to ensure the purest produce."
Some of the water source inspection and safety safeguards Eurofresh takes include:
€ Growing tomatoes with water supplied from several wells, which are monitored regularly to ensure that no bacterial contamination is present.
€ Inspecting its water supply weekly to ensure it is safe.
Water quality assurance tests are executed quarterly to ensure the highest quality, said Brace, adding that a certified third party also checks the greenhouse water supply monthly.
€ Ensuring no water is used in the packing or processing of Eurofresh products.
Brace said that Eurofresh "has never experienced any reported food borne illness in our company's 16-year history," attributing it to the company's stringent standards as a greenhouse grower.
"We completely control the environment in which our products are propagated, nurtured, and handled," he said. "As the major source of contamination of any produce is often associated with human or animal feces or other fertilization, we virtually eliminate this potential with the use of targeted methods that provide nutrition directly to our products."
Brace said Thursday that even though the warning on U.S. grown tomatoes has been lifted, Eurofresh "will continue to carefully monitor and control all contact with its product, from inception to final delivery to our customers."
 |
 |
|
| Willcox man arrested after Bonita shooting | Be an angel: Stuff the bus |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
