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California Urged to Monitor Farms for Food Safety

Feds Do Nothing, State Must Take the Lead, CSPI Argues

October 27, 2006

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The state of California should move quickly to adopt regulations governing the production of fruit and vegetables in California since no federal agency has yet adopted standards, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

In a legal petition filed with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Department of Health Services Director Sandra Shewry, CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal said mandatory regulations governing manure, water and sanitation on farms could help reduce the number of produce-borne food outbreaks, such as the recent outbreak of E. coli traced to California-farmed spinach.

"California should implement standards to protect its consumers and its produce industry, instead of waiting for Congress or one of the federal agencies with food safety responsibilities to step in," DeWaal said. "This is clearly a case where prompt action at the state level could prevent future outbreaks."

CSPI urged the officials to adopt measures similar to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards that meat and poultry producers are required to comply with nationwide. HACCP systems coupled with test and hold programs for ground beef have proven effective in reducing the number of E. coli outbreaks linked to beef.

Meanwhile, outbreaks linked to fresh produce have increased in recent years, according to CSPI.

In addition to the recent spinach outbreak, tomatoes, lettuces, melons, sprouts, carrot juice and other foods contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella or other pathogens have caused outbreaks. Those pathogens are usually -- though not always -- linked back to animal agriculture, which CSPI says warrants a particular regulatory focus on manure and water.

The same strain of E. coli that sickened 200 and killed at least three in the recent spinach outbreak has been matched with that of cattle manure found near one of the spinach fields at issue.

CSPI says the use of raw manure as fertilizer should be prohibited during the growing season, and that composting practices should be monitored to ensure pathogens are destroyed. Water used for irrigation must be tested and found suitable and only drinkable water should be used in produce processing facilities, according to the group.

CSPI's petition also urges better hygiene and sanitation on farms, and for improved package markings that can be used to track back produce to the farm of origin.

"We are reaching a tipping point, where consumers may not trust voluntary industry programs and instead may choose to stop eating foods that are both convenient and vital to good health. I don't think Salinas County growers can afford to be the cause of another large outbreak," DeWaal said.

"California often takes the lead in health and food safety issues when the federal government is slow to act. The state should exercise its leadership in this instance by giving our food supply a safe start on its farms."

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