For Immediate Release June 6, 2007
Jennifer Hanson 916-651-4016
In wake of outbreaks, legislature approves bills to restore consumer confidence in leafy greens
SACRAMENTO – Today the California State Senate, responding to several deadly E. coli outbreaks which originated in the state, became the first legislative body in the nation to recognize the unique risk posed by leafy greens and enact food safety reforms to address that risk. Senator Dean Florez, who authored Senate Bills 200, 201 and 202, hopes the reforms will go a long way toward restoring consumer confidence in California-grown leafy greens.
“The action taken today by the Senate demonstrates our resolve in making public safety a top priority, and hopefully brings America back to enjoying California leafy greens with confidence,” Florez said, adding, “Our produce is second to none, and now we can put a regulatory process in place that reflects and bolsters that fact.”
In late 2006, two E. coli outbreaks which killed at least three and sickened hundreds more were traced to lettuce and spinach grown in California’s Central Valley. Florez, D-Shafter, who chairs the committee charged with emergency preparedness for the state, immediately convened hearings on how to address food supply vulnerabilities brought to light by the outbreaks.
Senate Bill 200 gives the Department of Health Services the much-needed authority to recall or destroy produce which may pose a threat to the public. The measure also creates an inspection program to proactively address the threat of outbreaks. DHS inspectors would have the authority to conduct periodic on-farm inspections, including testing of water, soil and produce. The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 23-14.
While DHS enforces Good Manufacturing Practices for processors of leafy greens, no such food safety standards have been established for leafy green growers. Senate Bill 201 mandates Good Agricultural Practices for leafy green growers, covering everything from water and fertilizer use, to worker hygiene, to the creation of buffer zones between fields and potential contamination sources. Growers would be required to maintain extensive documentation of these practices. These documents would be reviewed by DHS to ensure compliance. The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 21-17.
The third measure approved today, SB 202, calls for the creation of a traceback system that can quickly trace contaminated produce through the various stages of the distribution process, from farm to processor, to distributor, to retailer. In the most recent E. coli outbreaks, lettuce and spinach producers nationwide took a major economic hit, because it could not immediately be determined where the infected produce came from and every farm was suspect. The ability to quickly find the specific source in an outbreak, combined with DHS’ ability to destroy suspect produce, will prevent a similar industry-wide hit in future E. coli outbreaks. The measure passed by a vote of 23-14.
###