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\t\tMulti-State Outbreak of E. coli Linked to Contaminated Irrigation Water<\/h3>\n
In 2018, the federal government warned everyone to throw away all romaine lettuce. That’s because romaine contaminated with a virulent form of E. coli bacteria – which eventually caused 200 to be sickened and five people’s lives.<\/p>\n
Read more: CDC: 2018 Romaine Lettuce Outbreak – Investigation Summary<\/a><\/p>\n This outbreak was finally traced to romaine grown in the region of Yuma, Arizona, where an irrigation canal was tainted with the E. coli strain. The canal ran along a huge animal feeding operation sitting nearby the romaine farms. E. coli comes from the intestines of cattle and other animals.<\/p>\n The FDA could not directly link the bacteria to the cattle operation and it took them months to determine the source of the outbreak. The FDA could not determine where the tainted lettuce originated or why it was contaminated in the outbreak – all because of the lack of unregulated tracking procedures. This event clearly identifies lack of safety measures to protect consumers.<\/p>\n Polluted agricultural runoff is the leading source of water pollution in rivers and lakes. The pesticides in runoff can build up in fish, which can expose people who eat the fish to high levels of chemicals. Polluted agricultural runoff can also trigger harmful algae blooms in coastal waters.<\/p>\n Which pollutants are of greatest concern and who is at risk? Other pollutants from agricultural runoff include:<\/p>\n Farm workers and residents of nearby communities are at risk. They should reduce their risk by:<\/p>\n The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)<\/a>, signed into law on January 4, 2011, was the most sweeping reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) law was supposed to change the inadequate safety measures and procedures of the food supply.<\/p>\n But, farm-lobbied members of Congress have hampered the FDA, which handles food safety, by mandating less than is needed to update the rules to prevent illness and save lives. The FDA still has a breakdown of FSMA rules and delayed compliance<\/a> dates.<\/p>\n There is a glaring regulatory problem with farmers and food safety: Growers aren\u2019t required to test their irrigation water for pathogens such as E. coli. As a result, contaminated water can end up on fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n The FDA – under the current Administration \u2013 responding to pressure from the farm industry and the orders to eliminate regulations \u2013 shelved the water-testing rules for at least four more years.<\/p>\n Latest FoodSafety.gov Food Recalls & Alerts<\/strong><\/p>\n See Recent Recalls – Get Automatic Alerts – Get Food Safety Widget: Visit Website<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Food](\"http:\/\/foodsafetytrainingcertification.com\/index_files\/food_safety_training_banner_icon.png\"){kind=icon}
Food Safety & Allergy Training - 10% OFF SALE<\/div>\r\n\r\n
Agricultural Runoff Issues Need to be Fixed<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>High levels of nitrates from fertilizers in runoff can contaminate drinking water. Nitrates can also cause potentially fatal \u201cblue baby\u201d syndrome in very young infants by disrupting oxygen flow in the blood.<\/p>\n\n
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\t\tGlaring Water Runoff Regulatory Problems<\/h3>\n
Additional Resources<\/h3>\n
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