Traceability: A lost industry initiative?

Has the salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes torpedoed hopes of an industry-led solution to traceability? I don't know the political dynamics of produce safety legislation on Capitol Hill, but I perceive the reality of a government imposed solution is closer than ever after the turmoil associated with the salmonella outbreak.

Take, for example, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Investigation subcommittee hearing today. A couple of themes were country of origin labeling and traceability. Importantly, committee vice chair Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., engaged FDA food safety official David Acheson repeatedly on the traceability issue. The net of the exchanges was that Acheson agreed that the salmonella outbreak has moved traceability to the front burner at the agency.

That gives me the sense that FDA might not be averse to a legislative, mandated solution.

DeGette, for her part has been getting press for her legislative push for traceability. The Denver Post writes about DeGette:

(DeGette) said that what is needed is a tracing system that would allow federal inspectors to almost instantly find where food produce was contaminated. She has proposed such a tracing system in her bill H.R. 3485, the TRACE ACT.

On its editorial page today, The Washington Post backed passage of DeGette's bill.

The Washington Post editorial said that nestled within the Food Safety Act of 2007, under consideration in the House, is DeGette's provision that would give the Agriculture Department and the FDA power to issue a mandatory recall of contaminated food.

"This is more than reasonable," said The Post editorial, "since the federal government can and did recall lead-tainted toys imported from China last year. Besides, the hammer of potential government action would be a powerful incentive for growers and packers to conform to safety standards."

Packer coverage from May 12 about the traceability steering committee:

David Gombas, senior vice president of food safety and technology for Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh, said the steering committee of the traceability initiative met Jan. 9, Feb. 22 and April 11 and is scheduled to meet again June 12. The initiative is sponsored by the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh. Forty-one companies are participating, with nine foodservice operators/distributors, 13 retailers and 19 grower-shippers.

Gombas said the January meeting brought is consensus on four key points:

* the GS1 standard is to be used achieve whole chain traceability;

* a timeline is needed achieve whole chain traceability;

* a public declaration is needed by each company; and

* start at the case level, with strong provision to move to item level.

Gombas said the June 12 meeting will establish timelines for each milestone on the path of supply chain traceability. In comments after the session, Proctor said the steering committee might set a timetable for implementation in a range from 18 months to five years.

TK: I don't know if the steering committee's work was postponed by the salmonella outbreak, but the urgency for industry led action on traceability has never been greater. Without an ambitious timeline for industry adoption of "whole chain traceability," the government will mandate a solution. Whether that solution will make sense for the industry will be secondary to the urge by Congress to act. In fact, the events of the past month or so may have made the work of the steering committee only a footnote in what will be a government imposed solution.

FDA teleconference - No news is bad news

Not a lot of illumination today from FDA officials, and expectations that "the answer" is at hand were not fulfilled.

In the teleconference today, the CDC identified salmonella victims in new states not previously linked to the outbreak, including Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont. The total number of victims is 228, the FDA says. Onset dates range from April 10 to June 1.

The FDA posted a flow diagram of a sample investigation, illustrating the complexity of the FDA's task.

Is the outbreak ongoing? CDC regards it as an ongoing outbreak.
Are tainted tomatoes still in the pipeline? Acheson: impossible question to answer, but there is still concern that contaminated product is out there.

On finding the farm:
"At this stage of the investigation there is no guarantee we will get down to the farm level," David Acheson revealed. "We may never know." Still, Acheson said he was still optimistic about finding the source, insisting the FDA is closer every day.

Questions about Mexico:
There is a confidentiality agreement in place with Mexico; FDA has talked to officials there but has not sent any officials to Mexico. Acheson indicated there seemed to be back and forth with Mexican regions that weren't producing tomatoes at the time of the outbreak, but he said "At this point, Baja has not been excluded."

Confusing advice to consumers?
"We are trying to go to great lengths to tell people tomatoes from regions that have been cleared are safe and not part of the outbreak," Acheson said. "If a store says they know tomatoes came from X geographic regions, then that's useful advice to consumers.

Why not just say Mexico or Florida are the potential sources of the outbreak? "We need to be right."

If consumers can't find out where tomatoes are from in the supermarket:"If you don't know, don't take the risk."

Acheson said: "The traceback is ongoing, it is extremely complex, and we are devoting all our energy and resources to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible."

Chat - Cathy H

I took the occasion today to do a little informal consumer survey with my good sister Cathy, who lives near Fort Worth, Texas. With no advance warning, I quizzed her on the salmonella issue....

10:15 AM Hey I thought I would "interview" you, my sister about the tomato salmonella outbreak? Are you game?

cathy.h: sure bring it on

10:16 AM me: Do you remember when you first heard about tomatoes and salmonella - and did it affect the way you shopped for tomatoes?

10:17 AM cathy.h: yes-earlier in the week in the newspaper and I've heard they've removed them from several markets close by, so I haven't been shopping for them since. I still had some in the refrig that I used tho...

10:19 AM Rather than worry about the lack of tomatoes in the taco salad last night, I was satisfied that we would just use more salsa

me: Do you think it will make you less confident about fresh tomatoes the next time you see them in the store?

cathy.h: yes

10:20 AM me: When you have gone shopping lately, have you seen signs in the produce department about tomatoes?

10:21 AM cathy.h: what are the guidelines-is it just with certain varieties-thought it was just with the smaller roma and a couple kinds. Actually I haven't had to go to the store, so I haven't noticed the signs

cathy.h: Is it supposed to be better at the farmer's market-local produce?

me: I was going to ask you if you know what the FDA advice is right now?

10:22 AM cathy.h: No, cuz I haven't been that tuned in-I haven't watched the broadcast news-expecting my brother to keep me updated.

me: Ha ha...

10:23 AM me: Another question: do you know if the FDA has found the source of the problem tomatoes?

10:24 AM cathy.h: Last I heard they had not, but like I said, I don't watch television news that much-and haven't read that much in the paper lately. I could do a quick internet search so I could sound more intelligent

me: No - you are right- they haven't found the suspect farm/packing house yet, though many states have been "cleared"

10:25 AM cathy.h: what about texas?

me: Texas is good. I know you sometimes buy organic produce - do you think food safety outbreaks make you more likely to buy organic in the future, or does it matter one way or another?

10:26 AM cathy.h: I would have to study it, but in general, I would be more inclined with organic? What is your opinion, o wise one?

10:27 AM me: Me, the impartial news guy? I don't know if I can tell you!

Cathy, thanks for the "woman in the street" interview. You will see it on my blog!

10:28 AM cathy.h: ok bro-I'm interested-glad to know that Texas is Ok for now

Mexico chafes at FDA

You probably don't want to see this black humor, but here is a link to a June 10 Jimmy Kimmel monologue that speaks of a "bacon - lettuce - bacon" sandwich. "I'm thinking of ditching the lettuce, too, just to be safe," Kimmel cracked. AP video below speaks of Mexico's objections to FDA scrutiny and this AP story also looks at what Mexico's leaders are saying. From the AP:

Growers said their produce is subject to double the scrutiny that U.S. tomatoes face: inspected first by Mexican officials and then again at the border when crossing into the U.S.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still hunting for the source of a salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes that has sickened 167 people in 17 U.S. states since mid-April. It has cleared imports from at least six countries — but not Mexico, which sends 80 percent of its tomato exports to the United States.

"This action, which has no scientific basis, is excluding exports of Mexican tomatoes from the U.S. market," Mexico's Agriculture Department said in a statement. "The FDA's unjust action is causing severe damage to Mexico's tomato industry, which provides thousands of jobs."

“Briefings from Dr. Bob Whitaker” - Why do tracebacks take so long?

Thanks to PMA and Julia Stewart for passing along the link to the June 11 briefing from Dr. Bob Whitaker. Here is an excerpt from the Q and A, with Julia Stewart and Dr. Whitaker in the first part of the opening exchange. For the full briefing, check out the PMA Web site.

Bob, the tomato industry is understandably upset about the ongoing foodborne illness outbreak that has been linked to certain types of fresh tomatoes. The Food and Drug Administration has been working for more than 10 days to identify the source of the contaminated tomatoes – but in the meantime many retailers and foodservice operators have pulled all tomatoes from their shelves and menus. Everyone in the produce industry puts public health and the health of our consumer customers, first and foremost. But now even safe production areas and products are being shunned by the market. Some production areas are at risk of losing their entire season, and tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, consumers are missing out on one of the true joys of summer eating, fresh tomatoes.

Can you explain why a traceback can take so long?

Dr. Bob Whitaker:

First let me say that at its very core, traceback is an investigation. It relies on data gathering and analysis. That process is performed under the simultaneous pressures of having to communicate sufficiently to protect public health and perhaps removing potentially contaminated products, while at the same time being mindful to minimize disruption to food supplies – and it has to be 100 percent accurate.

As state health agencies and/or CDC determine that an unusual illness pattern is emerging and they identify a causative microorganism, it triggers epidemiological studies to determine how people are becoming infected. Often this is called “identifying the vehicle”. One of the key questions epidemiologists ask patients is where they contacted the food product in question – be it restaurant, retail store, family picnic, school, church social, friend’s house, et cetera. They use a questionnaire to guide their questioning, but you can imagine how difficult this can be. Just think about it, can you remember what you had for dinner three weeks ago Wednesday? The epidemiologist is looking for the patient who can – and they need to be able to tell them where they purchased or ate the food. This can take several days or even weeks to find a handful of credible patients who can. When the epidemiologist can credibly link the patient with the food vehicle and a point of service location, it becomes an investigative leg for traceback.

Put tomatoes back on shelves and menus with confidence

Sliding across the inbox this morning:

Florida Tomato Committee has signed the following letter that was forwarded to retail and foodservice buyers this morning. The Committee encourages you to forward to customers and colleagues as well.

ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AND FARMING
CALIFORNIA TOMATO FARMERS
FLORIDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ASSOCIATION
FLORIDA TOMATO COMMITTEE
PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION
UNITED FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
WESTERN GROWERS ASSOCIATION

June 12, 2008

To the retail and foodservice produce-buying community:

With the good news that tomatoes from certain Florida counties and 30 other states or countries have been ruled out as the sources of the ongoing Salmonella saintpaul illness outbreak, we encourage you to now put those tomatoes back on your shelves and menus with confidence.

With the wellbeing of our consumers at the top of our minds, we have all worked together over the past 10 days to help the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to locate the source. FDA and CDC’s very thorough epidemiological and traceback investigations have now definitively ruled out round red and Roma/plum tomatoes from most production areas, and all other types of tomatoes regardless of source. According to FDA, these tomatoes cannot be the source of the illnesses.

We share your interest in protecting public health, first and foremost, and our industry strives to ensure our customers receive safe and healthy produce every bite, every time. Our thoughts and prayers have been with the people who were sickened by this ordeal.

Our tomato industry and producers in these areas are ready and eager to supply you with safe and healthy tomatoes; please contact your shipper partners to place new orders today. They have already paid a high price to protect public health, and shouldn’t be needlessly punished any further while the investigation is completed. Nor should our end customers be deprived any longer of safe supplies of one of the true joys of summer eating, tomatoes. Getting tomatoes back in our retail stores and on the menus is the most important step we can all take to restore consumer confidence.

We are in constant communication with the FDA in an effort to monitor this situation, which, as you know, is changing daily. If you have any questions about which tomato products and/or growing regions have been excluded from the investigation and are safe to ship, please contact us. If you would like any assistance with consumer communications, please contact your state and national organizations for assistance. We look forward to helping you put tomatoes back on the shelves, and back on the menu.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Dolan, Alliance for Food and Farming
Ed Beckman, California Tomato Farmers
Mike Stuart, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
Reggie Brown, Florida Tomato Committee
Bryan Silbermann, Produce Marketing Association
Tom Stenzel, United Fresh Produce Association
Tom Nassif, Western Growers Association

Tomato pulse: weak but getting stronger

One tomato market player offers some thoughts today.....

On the slow and cheap (but not stagnant) market:

"It's slowly but surely coming back a little."
"Spent all of yesterday receiving and sending out faxes from the Florida Dep't of Ag certifying that each one of my loads for the last 10 days is from a 'taint-free' county. I'm getting real good at that..."

On the media....

"And the tornado-like media has gone onto something else, as expected. No shouting from the mountaintop that Florida tomatoes are clear, unlike their inital scare-laden headlines. I don't necessarily blame them for the message, but I do think that they appered clueless during this crisis, and I've also decided that, for the most part, researching one's story has become a lost art Just disgusting."

On the aftermath......

"This shakeout is gonna be ugly as well. Whether all these loads in question can be settled without the help (!) of PACA or even civil lawsuits, will depend on the grower-->salesman-->broker-->wholesaler-->store owner process, the whole chain of event's ability to work together and not take advantage of the situation. That's where human nature comes into play, and I'm not optimistic."

"Attack of the tomato industry killers"

Preach it, Terence Corcoran. Corcoran, editor of The Financial Post, brings it strong in this opinion piece in the FP:


It started out as another killer tomato story — one Texas man dead from salmonella poisoning, 146 others suffering in 16 states — but now it’s turning into the killer of the tomato industry story. How did that happen?
The usual. It begins with a food poisoning, gets picked up by brain-dead media, story flies out of control for 48 hours, regulators swing into extreme self-preservation mode, risk-ignorant consumers 2,000 kilometres away get confused and panicky, and the food in question — a billion dollar industry — gets blown away.
The bare bones junk science sequence of this week’s tomato scare story couldn’t be more illustrative of our absurd inability to cope with what are really local and relatively minor commonplace events that involve risk that is minimal to non-existent. Food scare stories are also commonplace, and occur even though food risks are generally easily controlled, preventable and avoidable.
This latest runaway food panic is almost a parody of unlikely cause-and-effect. Man eats food in Mexican restaurant, gets food poisoning from tomato-based pico de gallo, shuts down continental tomato markets. If everyone who ever got food poisoning in a Mexican restaurant triggered a related industry crisis — I think I got mine from a guacamole dish — half the food industry would have been closed a decade ago.
Enhancing the media-led distortion is the fact that the original story is wrong: The man allegedly killed by tomato salmonella after eating at a Houston, Texas, restaurant — 67-year-old Raul Rivera — actually did not die from the tomato he ate. Kathy Barton, a Houston health official, said Mr. Rivera’s official cause of death is cancer. The Texas health department reports it has no deaths from salmonella poisoning.
Mr. Rivera did pick up salmonella at the restaurant, as did other members of his family. But only he had to go to hospital. He died last Wednesday, about two weeks after eating the contaminated tomatoes.
As far as we know, the restaurant is still operating — even though the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says that the vast majority of tomato-based salmonella poisonings occur in restaurants. Not that tomatoes are necessarily free of contamination when they arrive at the local deli, taco joint or fast-food outlet. Tomatoes can become tainted during growing, handling and processing —i.e., before they reach restaurants. But the CDC says restaurant handling practices are a likely cause of cross-contamination that exacerbates the risks.
Aside from Mr. Rivera, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that it has upward of 145 other reported cases of salmonella poisoning since mid-April, although only 23 required hospitalization. Since 1990, there have been about a dozen such small, localized outbreaks of salmonella involving 1,990 people. That implies thousands more people infected who did not report to authorities. So far, no deaths have been linked to the events.
So we are clearly not talking about a plague sweeping the United States. In fact, given the explosion in the volume of tomato consumption, the incidence of harm is trivial. Not that precautions (washing, cleaning, handling) or research into tomato-borne salmonella isn’t needed, but it is clear that the risks from tomato eating are nothing consumers should worry about.
But the usual extreme reaction to the non-death of Mr. Rivera, fueled by media-induced panic, is leading to the usual non-sensical results. Time to grow your own tomatoes, said one story. Buy only local produce, said another, playing off the buy-local fad.
Americans consume five billion pounds of tomatoes each year, produced by and imported from just about every state, province and major food-producing country. Per capita consumption has soared from 12 pounds to more than 20 pounds over the last 40 years, the growth driven by the changing cultural mix. The rise of Latino populations in the South and West is a major source of rising demand for tomatoes.
Out of five billion pounds produced by thousands of growers and processed through maybe millions of restaurants, at worst only a few pounds in decades have produced real consumer harm. Even the CDC in Atlanta said in a report that the rise in the incidence of tomato-based salmonella may be due to the combined fact that there are more tomatoes on the market and that the reporting systems have been improved. “The average size of reported outbreaks (of food-borne infections) during 1998-2002 was smaller than the average size of outbreaks during 1993-1997, indicating that a substantial portion of the increase in reported outbreaks might be caused by smaller outbreaks that were not reported in previous years.”
The combination of increased reporting systems and the massive growth in the industry turned a minor salmonella problem into an industry crisis. The media has a great habit of creating a panic, and then reporting on the existence of the panic.
The U.S. tomato industry, a spectacular success story in terms of output and product popularity, is being hammered by familiar villains — a sloppy media, regulators who enhance the sense of confusion and junk science — our almost willfull ignorance of risk. Financial Post