Food Safety

The problem was a multi-state outbreak including Arizona, California, Texas, and Washington of E.coli strain 0157:H7 in ready to eat salads. The strain was found in Glass onion Catering Company products specifically the Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken which was purchased at Trader Joe’s grocery store locations. Glass Onion Catering recalled several products that could have been possibly contaminated including salads and sandwich wraps. The investigation that was performed traced back the only common ingredient among salads in each state and found out that romaine lettuce form a farm in California was the only common ingredient. Several tests were run in the area and surrounding areas of the farm including two cattle operations that were close in case of cross contamination. They found positive samples in close range of the harvesting field. This problem is now over. The FDA (Federal Drug Administration), FSIS (U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), along with state and local officials investigated the E coli outbreak in the states containing the outbreaks.
The type of bacteria the investigators believed was responsible for the E coli outbreak in the ready to eat salads was Shiga toxin producing E coli strain.
In order to prevent foodborne illnesses people need to be cleaner by washing their hands and counter tops with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds, rinse the tops of their canned foods before opening them, and scrub fruits and veggies before consuming. People need to keep the raw meat separate from all their other foods, make sure the meat is cooked to the correct temperature, and always use clean utensils after touching it with raw meat. People should never change a diaper or pet their animals and then go cook without proper washing and they should thaw food in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in cold