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YUMA, AZ – Romaine lettuce growers face a challenge: rebuilding consumer confidence in a product linked to a strain of E. coli bacteria that has sickened more than 200 people in 36 states and led to recalls massive. Nearly half of those who became ill had to be hospitalized and five of them died.
Scott Gottlieb, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said in a statement last week that E. coli bacteria had been found in a tainted irrigation canal used by farms in the Yuma area. But more research is needed to determine how and why it ended up in the water, Gottlieb said.
At the height of the E. coli outbreak, the US Centers for Disease Control encouraged grocery stores to stop selling romaine lettuce, "
The Last Time Many People Falled sick of E. coli, c & rsquo; was in 2006 when nearly 200 people were sickened by contaminated spinach in 26 states. In this outbreak, E. coli was traced to a single source, but in this case lettuce grown on several farms was contaminated.
"This is a broader contamination event that has affected many farms and ranches." Bill Marler, a Seattle lawyer who represents more than 100 people who have been disgusted, has told the New York Times.
The CDC said last week that the E. coli romaine lettuce outbreak is over, but Marler said many of his clients are not fully recovered and are experiencing a series of Health problems, including kidney failure, will plant next year's crop in August, and the Leaf Leaf Greens Food Safety Committee of Arizona is looking for ways to increase the safety, including treating the source of water with bactericidal chemicals or finding a different source of water.The trade group advises farmers on steps to be taken to minimize the risk of crop contamination, including on how to re Collect, build fences around fields to prevent debris, test the water and soil, and maintain crops at least. About 90 percent of green leafy vegetables consumed in the United States during the months of April. Winter are produced in the Yuma region, according to a University of Arizona. Producers also recorded a large increase in lettuce exports to Sweden and the United Kingdom last year because of rains in Spain.
The lettuce production season ended prematurely last year due to the E. coli outbreak. Matt McGuire, managing director of JV Farms, which operates farms in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico, told the Arizona Daily Star
"The big drawback that has happened to us is, you know, we've destroyed consumer confidence in our product and what we do, "said McGuire. "We need to regain consumer confidence and, hopefully, in time for the fall harvest starting in November."
The lettuce produced at JV Farms was not tainted, but McGuire did stated that the farm was still throwing half of its crop.
"Buyers are turning to other areas like California faster than normal, and consumers are just stopping eating," he adds, adding, "We do not grow food to make sick people and when something like that happens, it's discouraging because all farmers are proud of product safety. "
According to experts, it would take up to two years for the romaine lettuce market returns to a normal level
"Romaine lettuce is always on the brink of chaos," McGuire said. "The demand is still low and it is still sold from 25% to 40% of its normal volumes."
Under normal conditions, lettuce prices are wildly fluctuating, according to Mark Manfredo, director of the Morrison School of Agribusiness
"There are a lot of factors at play, so it's hard to predict an impact economic, "he told the Daily Star
(Photo by John Moore / Getty Images) [19659019] Receive the newsletter of Across Arizona
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