Federal and state regulators, researchers and lettuce industry representatives are scheduled to meet in Salinas for a foodborne illness outbreak summit, reports the Monterey Herald.
Organized by the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security at the University of California-Davis, the meeting will focus in part on how investigations of leafy green-related outbreaks can be improved and what areas of research could help prevent outbreaks.
Scheduled speakers at the meeting include Dr. Robert Brackett, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, representatives for the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Western Growers Association.
Since 1995, 19 outbreaks of E.coli O157:H7, involving 409 individuals who became ill and two others who died, have been connected to fresh lettuce and pre-cut lettuce and spinach, according to the FDA. In eight of those outbreaks, the produce came from Salinas.