Salad E. coli recall threatens lucrative market

Pre-washed salads, which can be eaten without further washing according to the US Food and Drug Administration, has been credited with boosting consumption of fruits and vegetables by making them easier and more attractive.
But Food Navigator USA reports that the discovery of a potential outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Minnesota could change all that.
The FDA and the Minnesota Department of Health are now looking for the source of the latest outbreak, which resulted in the urgent recall of certain pre-packaged Dole salad products — Classic Romaine, American Blend and Greener Selection.
Dole Fresh Vegetables, a division of Dole Food Company, has announced that it intends to cooperate with the Food and Drug Administration and the Minnesota and California State Departments of Health regarding the investigation and recall.
Last week, a final ruling requiring all manufacturers to register with the FDA was approved. The new law will allow the FDA to quickly locate food processors in the event of deliberate or accidental contamination of the food supply. Except for specific exemptions, the registration requirements apply to all facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food, including animal feed, dietary supplements, infant formula, beverages and food additives.
Other rules issued under the authority of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 include the requirement of food firms to keep records that would allow FDA to conduct an effective and efficient investigation to protect the US human food and animal feed supply.