Spinach E. coli Outbreak Inspires ‘Traceability Boot Camp’
The 2006 baby spinach E. coli outbreak that killed three and sickened hundreds of others in the United States is part of the inspiration for a series of one-day Fresh Produce Traceability Boot Camps in California this month.
The third of seven programs sponsored by the Western Growers produce association and the Traceability Institute was held yesterday at the Courtyard Airport Hotel in Fresno.
According to a promotional brochure, the “boot camps” are aimed at fresh fruit and vegetable produce growers, packers, shippers, distributors, CFOs, CEOs, managers, supervisors and food safety staff. The intent is to apply technology — mostly bar-coding for now — in order for any box of produce coming from the Central Valley to be quickly identified by the location of harvest and for records to show how it was handled and where it went.
The concept is to develop a reliable system of tracing the origin of produce from an end-user’s fork to the patch of ground where it was grown. Speedy tracebacks will help smother outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and other pathogens by quickly identifying which food is making people sick and immediately recalling the lots suspected of contamination.
Hank Giclas, Vice-President of Strategic Planning for Western Growers, told KFSN-TV in Fresno that technology and acceptance is advancing to the point where bar-coding could extend to each individual head of lettuce, rather than by the case.
The station reported that growers see improved traceability as an effective marketing tool because of growing concern over food safety.
Said Giclas: “”It allows for swift identification of where your product is in the marketplace or supply chain and if needed, capture those products and remove from the marketplace.”
Tags: E. coli lawyer, lettuce outbreak
