Another Day--Another Salmonella Outbreak
Tainted pistachio nuts are the culprit for this week’s Salmonella outbreak. Fortunately, Kraft Foods’ quality unit was doing its job and was able to alert consumers about the problem before the outbreak reached epidemic proportions. At present, there are only two suspected cases of Salmonella gastroenteritis that may be linked to tainted pistachios. The contamination has been traced back to a California company which, according to reports, is the second leading producer of pistachios in the US.
As I have mentioned several times before, Salmonella outbreaks are nothing new and not out of the ordinary in the food industry. However, what is new is the growing lack of regulatory compliance that seems to be pervasive at American food manufactures. Many blame declining food safety on the US FDA’s lack of trained inspectors. While this may play a role, I believe that the real problem lies with the failure of many food industry executives to make a commitment to quality outlined in FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
I have been teaching cGMP to biotechnology students for the past six years or so. I always tell them that the regulations are meaningless unless management makes a commitment to quality. And, the only way to accomplish this is by insisting that all manufacturing taking place at a company stringently adheres to all GMP regulations and guidelines. For those you who may not be familiar with cGMPs, they are the minimum regulatory standards that must be met to insure US product (food, drugs and cosmetics) quality and safety.
Over the past decade or so, Americans have grown accustomed to a wide variety of choices when it comes to raw and processed foods. To meet demand, US food manufacturers must source and import fruits, vegetables, spices and other foodstuffs from all over the world. Regardless of the origin of a food source, cGMPs clearly state the onus is on the manufacturer (not the supplier) to perform the necessary tests to insure food safety and quality. The recent spate of Salmonella outbreaks suggests that some food manufacturers are either cutting corners or don’t fully understand what testing is necessary to guarantee food safety. Unless something changes, Americans confidence in the safety of US food supply will continue to wane.
Until next time...
Good Luck and Good Easting (avoid pistachios)
eak is identified federal and local health officials in both states have recommended that infants, the elderly and anyone with an impaired immune system avoid eating Roma and red round tomatoes that are not grown at home or sold attached to the vine.” So far, 40 confirmed cases, with patients ranging in age from 3 to 82, have been reported in New Mexico and Texas since April. To date, 17 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
