Ocean Mist Farms (Castroville, CA) and Steinbeck Country Produce (Salinas, CA) are voluntarily recalling green onions the two companies received from Circle Produce Co. (Calexico, CA) following confirmation from regulators that green onions from Circle Produce Co. tested positive for salmonella.The green onions were grown in Mexico, and were supplied to several different shippers. According to the story from The Packer, both the recalled onions came from the same lot. Ocean Mist is recalling 1,746 cases of the iceless green onions, while Steinbeck Country Produce is recalling 3,360 cartons of “four-count/2-pound, two-count/24-bunch and four-count/12-bunch bags of iceless green onions packed under the Nature’s Reward mark.”
To read the story from The Packer click here.
Fresh Plaza online is reporting that, while Ocean Mist has not been notified of any illnesses or heard of any that are result of the contamination, the company believes it is possible that some of the produce has been purchased by consumers. Raw green onions caused a hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania in October of 2003. 650 people were confirmed infected and some people did die from the outbreak.
This is the latest outbreak news of the summer. At some point it is expected the Senate might take up the House-passed Food Safety and Enhancement Act, but when that will happen is anyone’s guess as health care and climate change appear ready to dominate the Senate calendar for much of the remainder of the current session of Congress.
To read the Fresh Plaza report click here.
Posted: 09/01/09
