CDC report leaves Yuma in a tough spot

Window to figure out source of problem is too long

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma area as the source of an E. coli bacterial outbreak that has hit 11 states.

It’s the worst kind of report for our $2 billion agriculture industry, a scary one that lacks specifics.

The CDC made the announcement on April 13, with spokeswoman Laura Whitlock telling the Yuma Sun, “The information we have as of today indicates the lettuce people ate was grown in Yuma, Arizona. But we haven’t identified a common supplier or distributor or brand at this time.” And therein lies the challenge. Our farmers, growers, packing houses and suppliers work hard to make sure produce coming from our fields is safe for consumers.

Potential contamination can occur at any number of points: planting, cultivation, harvesting, packing or distribution. For ready to eat bagged products, there are additional steps, wherein the produce is sent to a plant to be washed, chopped and possibly mixed with other ingredients before being packaged as salad mix, according to past Yuma Sun reports.

But because the CDC has not been able to pinpoint where, in the process, the contamination occurred, the message is a blanket one, covering any and all growers, suppliers, distributors and brands.

Locally, it’s important to know what, precisely, happened, so our area agricultural community can respond, and reinforce measures to prevent it from happening again.

Yuma’s farmers take safety measures seriously, meticulously following food safety practices to ensure produce is safe from the field to the dining room table.

This outbreak is a serious one, with at least 53 people falling ill in 16 states, according to the CDC, 31 of which who have been hospitalized.

It’s important to recall the romaine, but it’s also important to narrow down, quickly, specifically, where the problem occurred.

Unfortunately, officials note it could take anywhere from six months to a year to know for sure what happened, which seems like a long time.

In an ideal situation, the process to pinpoint the problem would be much faster, which in turn would allow the agricultural community to address and fix the problem.

Instead, it’s a waiting game. And it’s a tough one to wait out.