FDA clears U.S. jalapenos

MONTEREY, Calif. -- As we arrived in Monterey for the annual Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Expo today, we were greeted with good news on the salmonella front. Below is the notice the United Fresh Produce Association notice sent to its members Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, read Fresh Talk all weekend as I, sections editor Dan Galbraith, and Salinas-area staff writer John Chadwell cover the PMA Foodservice show.

Stay tuned Sunday morning as The Packer reveals its 7th Annual Foodservice Achievement Award winner.

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FDA has announced this afternoon that it is revising its consumer advice to indicate that all fresh jalapeno and Serrano peppers grown in the United States are not associated with the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, and are thus safe to consume. Retailers and restaurants are advised that they may sell U.S. grown peppers without concern about this outbreak.

FDA is continuing its investigation and has confirmed that the jalapeño peppers distributed by Agricola Zaragoza of McAllen, Texas, were grown in Mexico, and that the contamination did not originate at the wholesaler’s facility. FDA said it could not yet narrow its consumer advisory to a specific producer or any specific region of the country, but is working to do so. It is taking environmental samples from several jalapeño pepper farms.

CDC also updated its website today, reporting that more than 1280 persons infected with Salmonella saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The onset of illness dates now range from April 10 to July 10. CDC considers this an ongoing outbreak.

GJ: It looks like FDA may be starting to listen to the many critics, both inside and outside the produce industry. There was no reason for, say, a North Carolina hot pepper shipper to be under an FDA advisory following the find in south Texas.