Sally Furniss
Well-known member
A single paddock has been quarantined after being linked to a severe stomach bug that put almost 40 people in hospital.
''In exploring our own supply chain, should the contamination have come from Pam's Lettuce, we can confirm we have been able to narrow our investigation down to a single paddock from the supplier Living Foods,'' the company said in a statement.
''This paddock has been quarantined at our request and further independent testing has been commissioned alongside the [Ministry of Primary Industries] MPI investigation.''
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/10624854/Farm-paddock-quarantined-over-gastro-bug
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said Environmental Science and Research (ESR) scientists identified the source of the bug as bagged lettuce and carrots from one particular supermarket chain a week ago.
However, the MPI had asked public health officials to keep the products and retailer's name a secret.
Listen to more on Morning Report ( 3 min 44 sec )
Dr Humphrey said everybody involved in the work, including MPI, ESR, all public health units and the Ministry of Health, had seen the results of the ESR study, which was quite clear.
"It is unequivocal and it does name the types of food that have led to this problem and it also names one particular product," he said.
"They (MPI) felt they should work with the industry rather than naming the foods but, of course, that leaves the New Zealand public slightly at risk, in my view," he said.
Dr Humphrey said he chose to name the vegetables anyway, to protect the public.
Dr Humphrey said the ministry's response had highlighted the conflict of interest within the organisation. And that's putting people's health at risk.
"The problem is we have a regulator of the production of our domestic food who is also responsible for the promotion of the industry itself," he said
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/256730/bagged-lettuce-possible-cause-of-gastro
''In exploring our own supply chain, should the contamination have come from Pam's Lettuce, we can confirm we have been able to narrow our investigation down to a single paddock from the supplier Living Foods,'' the company said in a statement.
''This paddock has been quarantined at our request and further independent testing has been commissioned alongside the [Ministry of Primary Industries] MPI investigation.''
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/10624854/Farm-paddock-quarantined-over-gastro-bug
Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said Environmental Science and Research (ESR) scientists identified the source of the bug as bagged lettuce and carrots from one particular supermarket chain a week ago.
However, the MPI had asked public health officials to keep the products and retailer's name a secret.
Listen to more on Morning Report ( 3 min 44 sec )
Dr Humphrey said everybody involved in the work, including MPI, ESR, all public health units and the Ministry of Health, had seen the results of the ESR study, which was quite clear.
"It is unequivocal and it does name the types of food that have led to this problem and it also names one particular product," he said.
"They (MPI) felt they should work with the industry rather than naming the foods but, of course, that leaves the New Zealand public slightly at risk, in my view," he said.
Dr Humphrey said he chose to name the vegetables anyway, to protect the public.
Dr Humphrey said the ministry's response had highlighted the conflict of interest within the organisation. And that's putting people's health at risk.
"The problem is we have a regulator of the production of our domestic food who is also responsible for the promotion of the industry itself," he said
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/256730/bagged-lettuce-possible-cause-of-gastro