DeLauro Urges FDA to Step-up Efforts to Stop Deadly Salmonella Outbreak

WASHINGTON, DC (February 5, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action in stopping the distribution of produce by the firms implicated in the recent deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers grown in Mexico. Since the outbreak began in July, 888 people in 39 states have been sickened, 191 people have been hospitalized and 6 people have died. While recall efforts began in September, more consumers have been sickened in the months since affected cucumbers were removed from store shelves.

"Despite two separate voluntary recalls issued last year, the CDC is still reporting an additional number of consumers sickened by these contaminated cucumbers. This is a public health crisis, and the FDA needs to do everything within its power to expeditiously identify the ongoing source of the Salmonella outbreak, including: halting all importation, processing, and distribution activities by the firms implicated in the outbreak; working with food retailers to ensure proper clean up and decontamination; and recalling any associated contaminated foods," DeLauro wrote in a letter to the FDA. "Given the ongoing prevalence of this outbreak, it is clear the manner in which we have addressed this problem today is inadequate."

Traceback investigations have identified cucumbers imported from Mexico and distributed to Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce and Custom Produce Sales as the likely sources of the outbreak. Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce issued a voluntary recall for slicer cucumbers on September 5, 2015; and Custom Produce Sales voluntarily recalled Fat Boy Brand and unlabeled cucumbers on September 11, 2015. FDA has issued "Import Alerts" to the suspected Mexican farms, and is working with the Mexican government and farms to take corrective actions.

More than 100 illnesses have occurred since the recalled cucumbers should have been removed from grocery stores and restaurants, leading to concerns about the source of the contamination. Investigators think that cross-contamination within the distribution chain for the recalled cucumbers may be responsible for the recent illnesses. Contributors to cross-contamination may include trucks, shipping containers, or pallets used to transport the original contaminated cucumbers, which could have then contaminated other products.

The full letter is available here.

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