Rabobank: Nationwide traceability would help

Here is the link to the Rabobank news release on fresh produce safety. What follows is the summary from the release:


NEW YORK (Aug 13, 2008) – Awareness, not occurrences, of food contamination increases, according to new podcast and Rabobank report, “U.S. Ag Focus: Food Safety in Fresh Produce.” In the podcast and report, Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory Assistant Vice President Marieke de Rijke examines U.S. Food Safety. “Several factors play a role in the severity and awareness of food contamination outbreaks in the fresh produce sector: media, increasing consumption, imports of fresh produce and changing population demographics,” said de Rijke.
Later......

As of Sept. 30, mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fruits and vegetables will come into effect, which means fruits and vegetables will have to be labeled at the retail level. Retailers will be required to provide and display a clear sign indicating a product’s country of origin. A positive side-effect of this government regulation would be an improved ability to trace back sources of food contamination. “There is no guarantee that fruit and vegetables are 100 percent safe and without risk and it is important for consumers to be aware of this,” said de Rijke. “However, if you consider how much fresh produce is being consumed, outbreaks are a very rare occurrence.” (This information begins at 5:40.) Moving forward, improvements in traceability, such as a nationwide traceability system, would help the FDA locate and contain outbreaks more quickly and more accurately. In addition, it would minimize health risks and help maintain consumer confidence in the safety of fresh produce.