The Listeria Outbreak That Goes On And On And On…
By Laurel Maloy, contributing writer, Food Online
It started with caramel apples and one distributor. Now, this recall has been expanded to include all Granny Smith and Gala apples distributed by one California processor
On Friday, January 9, the FDA issued a press release concerning the now infamous caramel apple recall. It is not over yet; the recall has been expanded to include all fresh, whole Granny Smith and Gala apples processed through Bidart Bros. Bidart is contacting all of its retailers, while consumers are being warned to check with their retailers before eating any fresh Granny Smith or Gala apples.
Upon determining the probable source for the tainted caramel apples, the FDA descended upon the Bidart Bros. apple-processing plant near Bakersfield, CA. Testing has confirmed that two different strains of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) exist at the processing facility. The FDA believes these two strains will ultimately prove to be the strains that so far have resulted in 31 hospitalizations and seven deaths across 11 states. Tests were run on environmental samples from the plant, as well as on whole apples. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on January 8, it was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), that the two identified strains are indistinguishable from the outbreak strains detected by the same method.
Due to Lm’s extended 70 day incubation period, traceability, though an important factor, is somewhat ineffective in dealing with Lm. Lm is sickening people long after ingestion, adding greatly to the length of time it takes to identify its source. On-site, on-shift testing appears to be the best method by which to prevent tragedies such as this. Though Bidart, in business since the 1930s, has an amazing track record, this family-run facility is being devastated by a pathogenic infection that could have been prevented.
On-site, on-shift testing at Bidart may have prevented this outbreak. It is also true that the Lm contamination could have been discovered by any one of the processors being supplied by Bidart. On-site testing could have been performed upon receipt of the apples by Happy Apple, California Snack Foods, and Pacific Coast Fruit, before processing. In fact, environmental testing on the trucks utilized to transport the product may have resulted in fewer deaths, simply because the infection would have been discovered before the product entered commerce. Were reusable plastic containers utilized for storage and transport? Were they tested?
Bidart was certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on September 19 of last year during a company-requested USDA audit, which Bidart does annually. The annual audit addresses the plant’s food-handling and food-safety procedures. The plant was found to have met the USDA standards for good handling and agricultural practices. It was not enough and Bidart is now reexamining its protocols.
It is extremely easy to point fingers in this situation. However, the truth is that the deaths and illnesses associated with this outbreak rest on the shoulders of all who handled these apple products before they reached the consumer. And now, these same people will be paying the high price.
First, there is the damage to each brand. Each of these processors and/or vendors is subject to losing valuable customers. They will have to be transparent going forward; doing what it takes to ensure the public they are committed to this never happening again. This will take time and money. One or more of these facilities may not recover.
Financially, the monetary shortfall will start with consumer lack of trust, but may end up in the courtroom. Each processor will be subject to law suits by the consumers and family affected. Also financially burdensome is the sanitation of the facility now that the infection has been detected. In the event that environmental sampling yields positive results, the facility will be shut down — that has already happened at Bidart Bros. No production equates to no income. Would the cost of dismantling and disinfecting your facility after the fact force your company into bankruptcy? Reading a summary of the Remediation of Listeria Contamination in a Wheeling, Illinois Food Processing Facility will give you an idea of what is involved.
Finally, comes the emotional burden of knowing that a product your company introduced into commerce was the cause for serious illness and death. Yes, it can be justified and minimized by the realization that it is the cost of doing business. You may rationalize its inherent risk and in front of the cameras or press, you will do and say what is necessary for “damage control.” But, how will you and your employees deal with the results away from work? How long will you or your employees carry the burden? It is something to think about before infection occurs.
Lm is prolific; it can live on surfaces for years and has even been known to come back from the dead after heat treatment. The CDC reports its presence in ready-to-eat (RTE), pre-cooked meats and in smoked seafood. Unpasteurized milk products and uncooked meats, fruits, and vegetables are also highly susceptible to Lm contamination. It can be killed by cooking and pasteurization, though that is not always the case, so simply washing an apple will not remove it. Improper handling, such as at the deli counter or prior to packaging, can spread the pathogen. It can also grow and multiply under refrigeration. Babies can be born with Listeriosis if pregnant mothers eat tainted food, even if they themselves do not become sick. Listeria monocytogenes preys on the weakened immune system, on the young, and on the old, though no one is immune. This pathogen is commonly found in soil and water, easily being passed from apparently healthy animals to the foods produced from them.
No amount of precaution is too much. Researchers are pushing forward with ways in which to more easily identify and eradicate this deadly germ. However; in the meantime, each food processor must exercise due diligence to ensure both the health of the consumer and of its company.