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Agency plans to collect 270 samples over the course of a year

November 14, 2019

1 Min Read
Lettuce harvested in Watsonville
Lettuce is harvested in Watsonville, Calif.Tim Hearden

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently shared with produce industry representatives their surveillance efforts of raw agricultural commodity romaine lettuce.

This sampling assignment includes the collection of romaine lettuce samples to test for Salmonella spp. and Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Starting this month, the FDA plans to collect 270 samples over the course of a year, with increased frequency in March/April and October/November— production transition periods.

This assignment is designed to help the FDA, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state public health agencies identify sources of contamination and help with the development of target investigations into foodborne illness outbreaks.

If the FDA discovers Salmonella spp. or STEC in a collected sample, the agency will contact the firm of the findings and work with them to ensure the health of their consumers.

Click here to read full romaine lettuce assignment summary.

Source: Western Growers, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset. 

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