Del Monte Sues FDA For Agency's Insistence on Recalling Food Suspected of Salmonella

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Alternet

Del Monte Sues FDA For Agency's Insistence on Recalling Food Suspected of Salmonella
The CDC's investigations pointed to imported Del Monte cantaloupes as the source of an outbreak that affected 20 people in several states.

September 1, 2011 | In an astonishing display of what can only be described as chutzpah Del Monte sued the FDA for insisting on a recall last March of its cantaloupes likely to be contaminated with a toxic form of Salmonella Panama. Now Del Monte is also suing the State of Oregon.

On what grounds?

Notably, “(t)he FDA investigation ultimately found no connection between Del Monte Fresh cantaloupes and any cases ofSalmonella Panama, including in Oregon,” the company says. “FDA issued a notice ending the recall on July 29, 2011.”

The CDC thinks otherwise. Its investigations pointed to imported Del Monte cantaloupes as the source of an outbreak that affected 20 people in several states:

Twelve of 16 ill people reported eating cantaloupe in the week before illness. Eleven of these 12 ill people ate cantaloupes purchased at eight different locations of a national warehouse club. Information gathered with patient permission from membership card records helped determine that ill persons purchased cantaloupes sourced from a single farm. Product traceback information indicated these cantaloupes were harvested from single farm in Guatemala.

Read more: http://www.alternet.org/food/152275/del_monte_sues_fda_for_agency%27s_insistence_on_recalling_food_suspected_of_salmonella_

[boppers]

1. Interesting.

1. 12 people had something in common (a batch from one farm).
2. There was a recall on something the 12 people did not have in common (all later batches from that farm).

Both sides seem to have semi-valid points (if one can get beyond hating farmers that sell their food to large corporations). Considering that tested batches had no contamination, it doesn't appear to be a systemic issue, but one of "how precautionary" recalls should be, without evidence that the recall is based on any factual grounds.

[fasttense]

2. So Del Monte wants to sell us poison food and the FDA wont let them?

Gee, how wonderful this free trade crap has turned out to be. Now we get a Salmonella specifically named after Panama. How wonderful. And Del Monte thinks they should be able to make us all sick with their unregulated, pesticide drenched, artificially fertilized giant, tasteless monster fruits.

I guess Del Monte has plans for all the dead bodies. Soylent Green anyone?

[zogofzorkon]

3. Its only a matter of time till the regulations get dumped in a bite partisan

support of laxer government regulations and enforcement so business can prosper.

[Celebration]

4. so if Del Monte was wronged

I say let Cargill bail them out.