Spinach recall

From the story by John Chadwell of the The Packer:

Metz Fresh, King City, Calif., notified the Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health on Aug. 28 that it has voluntarily recalled bagged spinach after it was determined there was a positive test for salmonella.This is the first instance of a positive finding for a pathogen on a product produced by a signatory of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, which was established after the Sept. 14 E. coli outbreak linked to fresh spinach.Greg Larson, spokesman for Metz Fresh, said Aug. 29 the recall was for 8,118 cases of spinach that were distributed under the Metz Fresh label to retail outlets and the foodservice sector throughout the U.S. and Canada.

From the FDA news release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Salinas, CA -- August 28, 2007 -- Metz Fresh, LLC is voluntarily recalling bagged spinach as a result of a positive test for Salmonella found during routine company testing.
The spinach is distributed under the label Metz Fresh, in both retail and food service packages. These include 10 and 16 oz bags as well as 4-2.5 lb. and 4 lb. cartons. The only Metz Fresh product affected is spinach that bears the tracking codes 12208114, 12208214 and 12208314. It was distributed in the continental United States and Canada.
There have been no reports of illness or problems related to this spinach.
Salmonella is a common food borne pathogen that can cause severe illnesses, including fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. While most individuals recover in three to five days without medical intervention, the infection can be life-threatening to young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Consumers with any of these symptoms should call their physician.
Consumers are advised to discard this product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact 831-386-1018.
"Nothing is more important to Metz Fresh than the safety of our consumers, period," said Andrew Cumming, President of Metz Fresh. "As soon as we learned of the presumptive positive test, we directed all customers to hold all boxes of the spinach affected as a precaution. Now, with this positive test confirmation, there is no question that we would recall and destroy all spinach bearing these three codes."
The positive test came during independent lab testing Metz Fresh conducts on all of its products. Through its labeling and numbering system, Metz Fresh has already tracked, located and put 'holds' on the vast majority of the cartons of spinach affected. That spinach will not be released into the marketplace.
While the positive test came from only one sample of many on three packing lines, Metz Fresh has, as a precaution, chosen to recall all of the spinach from the ‘field lot’ packed that day on all three lines.
Metz Fresh is keeping appropriate authorities updated on the status of the voluntary recall


TK: Thankfully no illnesses linked to this recall, which may be reassuring to consumers that testing protocols are in place. Here is coverage from the AP, Foodconsumer.org, Fox.

Peruvian relief update

Lance Jungmeyer here ...

I received word back from Bruce McEvoy on progress of industry humanitarian efforts for Peru, and here's what he had to say:

I’ve had a good dialogue with Nancy Tucker of the PMA on the need for a broad based industry relief effort. Nancy and I have also discussed the need for a legitimate foundation to be the collection point but also to provide oversight. The next step is to elevate the discussion within the PMA and Nancy plans to do this after the Labor Day Holiday.

I’ve also been talking with Priscilla Lleras of the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association. Priscilla recognizes the needs outlined in the FAO report and she and colleagues are also exploring the formation of a Produce Disaster Relief Organization to support the longer-term needs. I still think we need the umbrella of a PMA to rally the industry and I’ve encouraged Priscilla to also make contact with Nancy Tucker.

Regards,

Bruce

It's not too late to pledge help to this effort, and here's hoping that a disaster relief organization of some sort can come to fruition.

No match compliance

Here is guidance from the National Council of Agricultural Employers on the no match rule. I published to the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, as Google docs doesn't support pdf files. The file contains scenarios relating to the no match rule and suggested appropriate actions by employers.

From Sharon Hughes, NCAE executive vice president, comes these introductory remarks:

As you are probably aware, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has issued a new regulation about how to respond to a Social Security no match letter or a notice of suspected document from DHS itself.1 There are a number of ambiguities in the new rule and it is unclear how it will ultimately be applied. Based on several hours of discussion with high DHS officials, it is clear that DHS will apply the rule rigidly and strictly. In these conversations, DHS officials signaled that ambiguities both in the facts and the law will likely be construed against employers. The guidance that follows is therefore conservative.2 While others may recommend a more aggressive approach or seek loopholes in the rule, such approaches involve more risk. Whether you follow such an aggressive approach or the more conservative one set out in this guide is ultimately a business judgment in the particular circumstances. Unfortunately, the no match rule does not cover many of even the most likely scenarios that agricultural employers will encounter. Conversations with DHS officials indicate that the agency will take a rigid approach to applying it. If an employer deviates from the rule, DHS may, but not necessarily will, deem the employer’s response to be unreasonable and evidence of knowing employment of unauthorized workers. Moreover, nothing in the rule lessens the duty to act reasonably in situations not addressed in the rule and its explanatory comments where there is information that a person is or has become unauthorized. DHS will consider whether the employer’s conduct was reasonable when viewed under the totality of the circumstances.

Labor Day blowout

The food section is packed with ads this week to fuel festivities for the Labor Day weekend, with no lack of variety in produce promotions. I see HyVee even ran a lime promotion this week, which have seen higher prices in the wake of the hurricane in Mexico.


Wal-Mart: Prices Sept. 2-8:
Tomatoes on the vine: $1.50/lb
California Bartlett pears: 84 cents/lb

Hen House August 29 through Sept. 4
Features a Meet the Growers event with Dan Kuhn & The Depot Market, Courtland, KS and Missouri Western Fruit Co., Waverly, Mo.

Locally grown Twin County Family Farms whole seedless watermelon: $2.99/each
Andy's Candy Corn: 8 pack for $3:
Stemilt Artisan Naturals peaches and nectarines: $1.69/lb
Large, supersweet Dinosaur Egg pluots at $1.99/lb
Fresh black mission figs: 2 for $4
Locally grown candy sweet yellow onions grown by Stanberry Farms in Stanberry, Mo.
Portabella mushrooms: $2.99/lb
Santa Sweet grape tomatoes: 2 for $4
Mineola tangelos: 2 for $1
Dole Cole Slaw or classic salad (1 pound bag): 99 cents
Apio Veggie Tray: $8.99 each

HyVee Aug. 29 to Sept. 4
Columbine, green, red or black seedless grape: $1.18/lb
Bananas: 59 cents/lb
Greenhouse tomatoes: $1.38/lb
Pro Health russet potatoes: 3 for $1
Kandy honeydew melon: 2 for $4
California Bartlett pears: 88 cents/lb
Dole celery: 88 cents/stalk
Dole salad mix: classic romaine, greener selections, just lettuce, spinach or iceberg butter crunch 9 to 12 ounces: 3 for $4
Australian ellendale tangerines: $1.99/lb
Bland Farms Rocky Mountain sweet onions: 88 cents/lb
Ripe hass avocados: 2 for $3
Sunkist choice lemons or tangy limes: 2 for $1


Dillons Aug. 29 to Sept. 4
Ripe red whole seedless watermelon (16 pound average) $2.99/each
Red, green or black seedless grapes (conventional or organic) $1.79/pound
Tree ripe Colorado peaches: $1.79/lb
Ripe cantaloupe: 2 for $5
Tomatoes on the vine $1.99/lb
Wrapped corn 5-pack: $3.49
Bartlett pears: $1.49/lb
Red or black plums or nectarines: $1.79/lb
Fresh Express Cole Slaws: 10 for $10
Kroger or Naturally preferred baby peeled carrots: 1 lb 2 for $3
Fresh white mushrooms: 12 ounce: 2 for $5
New crop gala or paula red apples: (3-lb bag) 2 for $6

American Harvest

A documentary film that is friendly to the role immigrants play in America and American agriculutre, American Harvest is being promoted at this Web site.
From the Web site:
Immigrants are dying to feed America.
Discrimination of immigrants has existed in the United States since the English persecuted the Irish at the beginning of this country’s history. It was once generally considered that if you were Greek or Southern Italian you were not white. Anti-immigration sentiment is nothing new in the U.S.
American farmers and agriculture rely on immigrants to do jobs that Americans won’t do or feel that are simply beneath them. This is causing problems for many people. Some see the problem first hand. Others only see the problems in the news from the perspective of those extreme points of view of the left and the right side of our political system.
American Harvest attempts to shed light on the changing face of the United States in particular as it relates to Agriculture. This film also points out the flaws and inconsistencies of the current U.S. policy on immigration.
The filmmakers follow both legal and illegal farm workers and the farmers caught in the middle of a flawed immigration policy.

Below is a trailer for the film.

When worlds collide

The Internet has changed the speed at which the industry reacts to information, and it has changed the way the "outside world" relates to the industry. One good example of this is that I was looking at the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group this morning (we added two new members today- yee haw!) and I found that one of the posts linked to a story put out by another division within Vance Publishing Corp., owners of The Packer.

What's more, Doug Powell of K-State's Food Safety Network subscribes to a clipping service that sends him Danny Dempster's column about produce safety printed in a Canadian newspaper. (By the way, Danny and I talked the other day and I will try to unpack that conversation later. ) Meanwhile, I refer to the Food Safety Network post and Jim Prevor also notes Danny's column in his blog. Now Doug Powell in Barfblog has a commentary on the comment.

What does it all mean? The industry and the public are becoming one. Anything said in an industry seminar will be shouted from the rooftops. One year after E. coli and spinach, a lot of people care what the industry says and does. We can like it or not, but that's the new paradigm.

It's a horse race

The Fresh Talk poll this week is fairly tight, with only one day of voting left. To the question:
"Should a radura symbol or any other labeling be required to inform consumers fresh produce was irradiated?"
The results so far 13 yes and 9 no - still close enough for a lead change down the stretch.


The news about Sen. Larry Craig still continues to capture a lot of media bandwidth. Here is a transcript from the O'Reilly Factor last night.
I'm intrigued as to what the industry's reaction will be: It could be quiet support, public disappointment or no comment. I have a call into United to get their reaction but haven't talked to Robert Guenther or Tom Stenzel yet. I will try to weigh in with Sharon Hughes of the NCAE as well. From all appearances, Republicans are quickly distancing themselves from Sen. Craig. It's hard to imagine the circumstance that Craig can before a forceful champion for immigration reform or any other issue now.

I'm thinking the next Fresh Talk Poll has found its topic.