While a cyclospora outbreak is affecting people in the U. S., the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) want to reassure consumers here.
“Consumers can be confident in the safety of Ontario greenhouse vegetables,” said Executive Director Richard Lee. “Our growers operate under some of the most rigorous food safety and regulatory requirements in North America and are committed every day to producing safe, high-quality food.”
Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are grown indoors, which helps limit exposure to many contamination sources found in outdoor farming. Crops do not come into contact with open soil and are protected from rain, runoff, wildlife, and other potential contaminants.
Moreover, commercial greenhouse vegetable growers have annual food safety audits carried out by independent third-party auditors. Growers must meet strict standards for sanitation, employee hygiene, water quality management, facility controls, record keeping, and traceability.
“Food safety is a shared responsibility from the greenhouse to the table,” said Lee.
Part of that responsibility also falls on consumers. The OGVG encourages them to practice safe food handling at home by washing hands before handling food, rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and staying updated on public health advisories and food recall notices.
This Thursday, officials in Michigan announced that new cyclosporiasis cases are declining.
CNN reports that there have been 12,485 cases in the state so far this year. This includes 279 hospitalizations and two deaths linked to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. The outbreak has been traced back to operations based in Mexico.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 22,700 cyclosporiasis cases this season alone. Another 12,200 cases are being confirmed through lab testing.
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