Monday, December 11, 2006
Over the past few months, fresh produce has been the culprit of many food-borne illness outbreaks. The latest being the E. coli breakout in green onions at Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeastern U-S last week. Regulation of fresh produce is a hard task because its grown on farms all over the nation, sent to packaging plants, and then grocery stores, before the consumer even touches it. Associate Dean for Research in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science at the University of Florida Doug Archer says while something probably needs to be done to prevent future outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, it is difficult to do. Communications Director with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Communications Service Terrance McElroy says people must use common sense when handling fresh produce. McElroy says the United State's food supply is not unsafe, and people should not be afraid. So far 60 people have been sickened in the green onion E. coli breakout.