Produce and Salmonella. Not a healthy mix.

In the last 3 weeks, we have seen produce recalls happening coast to coast.

We saw canteloupes recalled in Florida when they tested positive for Salmonella.

Green onions had two recalls due to Salmonella, one from Mexico and the other from California.

We saw parsley being recalled. Again for Salmonella.

And on Sept. 18, spinach produced in California was recalled again due to Salmonella.

Why are we seeing this? Food safety programs are in place. More testing than ever is occuring. More inspections are happening.

Increased surveillance, certainly, is expected to find any form of contamination. We would think that if we test more we might expect to see more positive testing for contamination, if contamination is occuring.

Thank goodness that more food testing is occuring and thank goodness that more effort is being made to improve conditions.

Why do these products show bacterial contamination? Let's think about this. It is planted in the soil. It is grown with a lot of moisture and in the harvesting and storage it needs moisture to stay fresh.

Salmonella will live and grow in the water and will be carried by other organisms up onto the plants. Frogs, toads, slugs, snails, birds all enjoy this environment.

How are the products handled post harvest? The picking, packing, sorting, cleaning, storage process all need to be reviewed. Having the correct procedures to eliminate contamination before packaging are needed.

Watch your handling procedures at home. Proper in home handling, cleaning and storage is important to keep your family safe.

Be careful out there and keep your green mix healthy.

Rudy
rudy@powerinlearning.com