FDA Issues Warning Letter to Cantaloupe Industry

[Sherman A1]

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, working with state and local agencies, has issued a letter to the cantaloupe industry — all along the supply chain from grower to shipper — to reiterate warnings that safety practices must be followed closely as the growing season gets underway.

The FDA’s letter recalls details of two large outbreaks last year that resulted in more than 400 people becoming ill, and that resulted in at least 36 deaths from contamination from harmful pathogens, including strains of Listeria and Salmonella, associated with cantaloupes.

Signed by Michael M. Landa, director, FDA’s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, the letter sends a twofold message to the industry: Best practices known to be effective in reducing the risk of harmful contamination must be followed, and the FDA will be making inspections throughout the growing season of packing houses to assess practices and identify conditions that could compromise the safety of cantaloupes.


Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/food-safety/fda-issues-warning-letter-cantaloupe-industry#ixzz2M9CjYXCW

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Goody. So budget cuts will not affect the FDA inspections, I take it.

Just wait....every single problem with food will be laid at the budget cut door.

while the F-35 plane goes into its 8th overtime year on the contract.