Cleanliness of Produce Draws New Attention

Lettuce crops are see in Salinas, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 18, 2006. Grocers tried to lure shoppers with alternative greens, as a national recall of spinach because of an E. coli outbreak continues. The popularity of bagged salad greens has been a boom to farmers who are now suffering from the outbreak which has been traced to packaged spinach. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP)

WASHINGTON -- Leafy vegetables are the second leading source of E. coli infections in the United States, behind ground beef, but the government relies primarily on voluntary safety steps by farmers and packagers to prevent outbreaks.

The cleanliness of fresh produce is drawing new attention amid reports that tainted spinach has been found recently in 21 states, killing at least one person and sickening more than 100 others. A second death was under investigation.

Some consumer groups believe the government should do more to regulate farming and packaging, including the quality of water used for irrigation, the application of manure and sanitary facilities used by workers.

"The safeguards are not in place to protect fruits and vegetables in the same way that they are for beef and poultry," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food-safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Foodborne illnesses in the United States cost about $7 billion annually, including medical expenses and productivity losses from missed work, according to estimates from the federal government.

The U.S. food supply is governed by a complex system administered by 15 agencies. Lawmakers in past years have introduced legislation to make one agency responsible for food safety.

Federal officials have also raised concerns that the food supply is vulnerable to contamination by terrorists. Just before leaving office in December 2004, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said he worries "every single night" about a possible terror attack on the food supply.

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do," Thompson said.

FDA officials do not suspect terrorism in the latest outbreak.

In recent years, the FDA has acknowledged problems involving the safety of produce, particularly with lettuce and spinach.

"In light of continuing outbreaks, it is clear more needs to be done," said Robert Brackett, director of the agency's Center for Food Safety and Applied Sciences.

Brackett's comments were contained in a letter sent in November to California firms that grow, pack and ship lettuce. He noted that 19 known outbreaks of E. coli have come from fresh-cut lettuce or spinach since 1995.