Spinach & Walkerton??

The latest Food Scare is screaming across the headlines this week. If you Google 'contaminated spinach' over 4000 entries come up, most form the last week! The headlines are not destined to make anyone comfortable about their salad greens.

Contaminated spinach found in victim's fridge

Health Authorities Warn Americans Not to Eat Contaminated Spinach

Spinach being pulled from shelves due to E.coli

Spinach pulled after E. coli outbreak

Eat your spinach?

More Cases of Contaminated Spinach Reported Across Country

I was lunching with friends and the 'big scare" came up as we were considering salads. The waitress actually recommended that we not order the spinach salad on the menu. When we asked if they imported their produce from the US, she said 'No, but better safe than sorry!' So if Canadian producers have been selling to restaurants, you can bet they are seeing a problem with sales.

I was finally relieved to see :

Don't eat fresh spinach imported from U.S.

But this CBC story ( see CBC News ) didn't show up among all the clutter. Obviously the news hadn't filtered down to our waitress! Since E. coli 0157 was also the cause of the Walkerton water disaster (and look where that led!) it is mentioned in this story as well. Just try the CBC search for stories under " E. Coli". Many results come up but you do NOT have to read very far to find the words Walkerton..... it will haunt agriculture for years.

And then this article:

Coli Toll: 146 in 23 States: 76 victims are hospitalized

(See CBC News )

There is an untold story here. Our vegetable growers & their organizations should have had some sort of 'crisis management' material prepared. More and more, stories about contaminated fruits and vegetables, once unheard of, are hitting the media. Many are sourced out of Canada. Consumers do not know what or if our fruit and vegetable growers are doing anything to protect their customers. Many do not even realize that even 'in season' many places source their 'fresh' products from other countries. By extension, Canadian produce is tarred with the same feathers.

Where are the media advisories from Ontario fruit and veg growers to help educate the public? Why not keep making the distinction between local (Ontario) and imported (bad)? Canada and Ontario do have different rules and regulations vis a vie our foods than our neighbours to the south.

All this, is the best reason ever, that agriculture MUST remain proactive about their food safety and quality initiatives. Bravo, for those that have done something. Shame, for those who have not. They risk all your futures.