Introduction
Increased incidence of Salmonella, which has affected at least 449 people in the United States, has been associated with infected cucumbers. It is worth noting that the CDC has been involved in the investigation of the issue since June and, the cucumbers used culminating in the outbreak were produced in Florida. It has led to recalls and more attention to food safety measures given this common health issue.
If cordon sanitaire becomes impracticable the scope of the outbreak has to be delineated.
According to the CDC research, 31 states and the District of Columbia experienced the illness after handling or consuming the cucumbers. In the 449 confirmed cases, 125 patients were admitted to hospital. Fortunately, there has not been any type of fatality either. But in a statement, the CDC warned that the actual number of people with the disease could be much higher since most people with foodborne illnesses do not seek medical attention.
Table of Contents
The entities we examine fall under ongoing investigation and current risk
However, CDC officials have sought to calm the public by telling them that no cucumbers that have the disease are currently being sold on the market. The agency sought to assure the public stating that there is likely no ongoing risk to the public although it is hard for the agency to establish the source and the extent of the contamination.
Centre Efforts: The assist or central effort of this research is a critical component of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Untreated Canal Water Sample, collected from the vicinity of Bedner Growers Inc., Palm Beach County Florida, contained Salmonella strains the same as the one responsible for the outbreak. However, to the surprise of the regional growers, the FDA pointed out that Bedner Growers wasn’t completely to be blamed for all the ailing bodies.
Response to Bedner Growers Inc.
Bedner Growers Inc. has suffered some pulls and pressure because of the discoveries made by the FDA. But the company has remained tight-lipped on the subject up to this date. FDA’s investigation yet again shows how intricate the matters of food safety are and how difficult it can be to identify the causes of adulteration.
Thomas Produce Co. Takes Action in the Light of FDA Reports
Another grower, established in Palm Beach County, was named by the FDA as having provided cucumbers implicated in the outbreak, namely, Thomas Produce Co. Subsequently, Thomas Produce Co. came out to refute the claims; saying that these did not directly link to the outbreak of Salmonella. The company pointed out that while it was possible to isolate a matching strain of Salmonella from a water sample from an irrigation canal on one of its farms, it could not find positive results for Salmonella Braenderup or any other strain of Salmonella in its packed products.
In a letter to customers dated August 14, Thomas Produce Co. declared: The company continued to re-assert their stance of food safety and quality assertion by stating that no packaged product from their farm was found to contain Salmonella Braenderup or any other strain of the disease, and the packing facility which was tested by the FDA did not come up with any positive test result of any of the strains of Salmonella.
Fresh Start Produce as an organization and the Recall
The government investigation also extended to cucumbers produced by Fresh Start Produce a Florida distributor who also recalled his produce from the market. However further investigations showed that the strain of Salmonella in a sample of Fresh Start’s cucumbers was not related to the strains that caused the outbreak. However, this recall was issued as precautionary to ensure that people’s health was not compromised in the course of consuming the affected stocks.
A telephone call and an email to Fresh Start Produce for information about the situation were not returned.
Food Safety: Allocating of responsibilities between the Federal and State governments
This Salmonella outbreak therefore brings into focus the need for better food safety measures and protections that people who produce food, those who sell it, and the governments. While investigating, the consumers are urged to be advised on food recalls and the right safety measures to adhere to when handling/processing foodstuff.
The CDC and FDA will continue to investigate to make sure everyone’s possible ways to contaminate food are addressed. In the meantime, consumers can only appear reassured by the fact that the implicated cucumbers are no longer in circulation thus limiting the spread of the food-borne illness.
Conclusion
As shown in this study, foodborne diseases are still one of the most prevalent concerns to human health. Although the risk that has been introduced through the consumption of contaminated cucumber has been tamed, constant acumen and appropriate adherence to the principles of food hygiene are critical in avoiding such incidences in the future. The CDC and FDA collaborate and adequate reporting of food producers considerably governs public health. Continue to check for new information and follow measures that would guarantee the safety of your health.
