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Florida tomato agribusiness giants plead guilty to enslaving Mexican and Guatamala...
"The successful prosecution of five Immokalee residents on slavery charges is satisfying, but the brutal details of their treatment of farm workers show how warped the agricultural labor system is...
This is among six slavery cases the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has helped prosecute, freeing more than 1,000 people. Coalition member Gerardo Reyes asked Tuesday, "How many more workers have to be held against their will before the food industry steps up to the plate and demands that this never - ever - occur again in the produce that ends up on America's tables?"
Also, click here to read the US Department of Justice press release announcing the convictions.
UPDATE #1: US Sen. Bernie Sanders issues a statement on the convictions! Here's an excerpt:
"... I applaud U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy and his staff for successfully prosecuting this case. I also want to congratulate the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) for their on-going efforts to protect some of the most exploited workers in our country...
... As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee I intend to introduce legislation in the very near future which will end a loophole in current law which enables growers to avoid taking responsibility for what happens on their fields when workers are being enslaved.”
September 3, 2008: Yesterday, at federal court in Ft. Myers, FL, farm bosses from Immokalee pleaded guilty to "numerous charges of enslaving Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants, brutalizing them and forcing them to work in farm fields." ("Five to plead guilty on charges of enslaving immigrant laborers," Ft. Myers News Press, 9/2/08).
According to the News-Press report:
"The 17-count indictment in the case -- one of the largest slavery prosecutions Southwest Florida has ever seen -- was released in January. It alleges that for two years, Cesar Navarrete and Geovanni Navarrete beat agricultural laborers, chained them up, locked them in boxes and trucks on the family property while keeping them in ever-increasing debt.
Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy has called it "slavery, plain and simple."
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What words are there in the English language or any language to describe the disgust for this? This is America? I am very disturbed at not knowing what has transpired to get food to my table!
The CIW issued the following statement to press about the convictions:
"The facts that have been reported in this case are beyond outrageous -- workers being beaten, tied to posts, and chained and locked into trucks to prevent them from leaving their boss. How many more workers have to be held against their will before the food industry steps up to the plate and demands that this never -- ever -- occur again in the produce that ends up on America's tables?"
"What's most frustrating is that there is a solution. As US Senator Bernie Sanders said when he visited Immokale, 'Slavery is the extreme. The norm is a disaster.' If we can improve the norm -- guarantee fair wages and humane conditions for all Florida farmworkers -- then we can eliminate the extreme. And there are now several retail food industry leaders who have agreed to do their part to promote social responsibility in Florida agriculture. Yet the leaders of Florida's tomato industry -- who are holding their annual meeting this week at the Ritz Carlton in Naples -- continue to stand in the way of progress. The FTGE needs to start working with Yum Brands, McDonald's, Burger King, and the other major tomato buyers who want to put an end to exploitation in Florida's fields."
Unconscienable... but do Americans on the whole care? "The successful prosecution of five Immokalee residents on slavery charges is satisfying, but the brutal details of their treatme... more -
The Salmonella Outbreak is Over
The Centers for Disease Control says the salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 1,440 people appears to be over.
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Tomato Fight in Spain (photos)
Photographs from the 2008 Tomatina celebration in Bunol, Spain on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.
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Spain's Great Tomato War
It is perhaps the largest food fight in the world. Every year in the tiny town of Buñol, Spain, locals and tourists engage in pitched battle using close to 150,000 kilograms of tomatoes. The tradition has been going on for over 60 years, but no one seems to know how or why it got its start.
It's one of those childish impulses most of us know well. Faced with a plate full of food in a room full of people, it's hard not to indulge in fantasies of throwing your dinner at those seated around you. Indeed, the good old school cafeteria food fight is high on the list of pleasant childhood memories for many.
Read more... It is perhaps the largest food fight in the world. Every year in the tiny town of Buñol, Spain, locals and tourists engage in pitched ... more -
FDA finds salmonella strain at second Mexican farm
Federal health officials say the salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and a serrano pepper at a Mexican farm.
Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, is calling the finding a key breakthrough in the case.
Acheson said the farm is in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Previously, the FDA had traced a contaminated jalapeno to a farm in another part of Mexico.
Acheson and other officials were grilled Wednesday at a congressional hearing about why the investigation originally focused on tomatoes.
The officials insisted that tomatoes still cannot be ruled out and that it is quite possible that the outbreak was caused by several different kinds of contaminated produce. Federal health officials say the salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and a serrano pe... more -
Deadly Jalepenos, Tomatoes off the hook
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with a strain of salmonella that has sickened more than 1,200 people, officials said on Monday.
The pepper, which showed up at a south Texas distribution facility, originated in Mexico, the FDA said.
"FDA has found a genetically matched Salmonella saintpaul isolate from a distribution center called Agricola Zaragosa in McAllen, Texas," Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the FDA, told reporters in a telephone briefing.
Acheson said it is not yet clear where the pepper was contaminated and said it could have been anywhere between the farm where it was picked and the facility in Texas.
-Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with a strain of salmonella that has sickened more than... more -
OK to eat tomatoes again; stay away from hot peppers
According to the FDA it is now permissible to eat all kinds of tomatoes. The recent salmonella outbreak has been contained in the tomato industry, however jalapenos and serranos are still at risk for infecting people with salmonella. The elderly and those with weak immune systems are encouraged to stay away from any hot peppers. According to the FDA it is now permissible to eat all kinds of tomatoes. The recent salmonella outbreak has been contained in the tom... more
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FDA declares it’s OK to eat tomatoes again
Yes Yummy tomatoes are back on the menu, so says the FDA... Do you trust them?
"It's OK to eat all kinds of tomatoes again, the U.S. government declared Thursday — lifting its salmonella warning on the summer favorites amid signs that the record outbreak, while not over, may finally be slowing.
Hot peppers still get a caution: The people most at risk of salmonella — including the elderly and people with weak immune systems — should avoid fresh jalapenos and serranos, and any dishes that may contain them such as fresh salsa, federal health officials advised."
"The tomato industry — which held an unprecedented meeting with FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach and other officials on Monday — welcomed the announcement.
"We have long been confident that Florida's tomatoes were not associated with the salmonella Saintpaul outbreak," said the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, whose farmers are deciding whether to start planting for a fall tomato harvest. "Tomatoes from Florida's growing regions have been gone from the marketplace for weeks, so they could not have been the source of the contamination."
REMEMBER: Play it safe people, Jalapenos and cilantro are still suspect. Yes Yummy tomatoes are back on the menu, so says the FDA... Do you trust them? ... more -
Load up on that Lycopene again!
The Red veg gets the Green light!
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Vegetables attack !!! Salmonella Poisoning
Oh my God! We don't know where its coming from !!!
It's tomatoes .... no its.... peppers.... wait.....
Don't eat vegetables !!! Hysteria !!! Panic !!! Kill the plants before they kill us !!!
More than 1,000 people now have become ill from salmonella initially linked to raw tomatoes, a sobering milestone Wednesday that makes this the worst foodborne outbreak in at least a decade. Adding to the confusion, the government is warning certain people to avoid types of hot peppers, too.
But people at highest risk of severe illness from salmonella also should not eat raw jalapeno and serrano peppers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Wednesday. The most vulnerable are the elderly, people with weak immune systems and infants.
Perhaps there was some truth in that move "The Happening".
CDC food safety chief Dr. Robert Tauxe told The Associated Press:
“We are quite sure that neither tomatoes nor jalapenos explain the entire outbreak at this point. ... We’re presuming that both of them have caused illness.”Tauxe said. “But we really are working as hard and as fast as we can to sort out this complicated situation and protect the health of the American people.”
Added FDA food safety chief Dr. David Acheson: “It’s just been a spectacularly complicated and prolonged outbreak.”
The outbreak isn’t over, or even showing any sign of slowing, said Tauxe — with about 25 to 40 cases being a reported a day for weeks now, to a total of 1,017 known since the outbreak began on April 10.
Illnesses now have been reported in 41 states — and even four cases in Canada, although three of those people are believed to have been infected while traveling in the U.S. and the fourth is still being probed. Oh my God! We don't know where its coming from !!! It's tomatoes .... no its.... peppers.... wait..... ... more -
Salmonella Illnesses Now the Largest Foodborne Outbreak in History
Infection toll at 1,017; health officials add hot peppers and cilantro as suspect foods, along with tomatoes
WEDNESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- The number of people sickened in the ongoing salmonella outbreak has now surpassed 1,000, and while certain types of tomatoes remain the suspected cause, U.S. health officials on Wednesday added hot peppers and cilantro as potential suspects as well.
"We continue to get new reported cases every day," Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the division of foodborne, bacterial and mycotic diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a late-afternoon teleconference. "This is the largest food-borne outbreak in the United States."
Since the outbreak began in April, 1,017 people in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Canada have fallen ill, and at least 203 people have been hospitalized. One death -- a Texas man in his 80s -- has been associated with the outbreak. Also, a man in his 60s who died in Texas from cancer had a Salmonella Saintpaul infection at the time of his death, the CDC reported Wednesday on its Web site.
In addition, according to the CDC, 300 of those people became ill after June 1.
An initial investigation of the outbreak, in New Mexico and Texas, suggested raw tomatoes as the likely source of the contamination. But a larger, nationwide study comparing persons who were ill in June found that those who were sickened were likely to have recently eaten raw tomatoes, as well as fresh jalapeno and serrano peppers, and fresh cilantro. These foods are typically consumed together, the CDC said.
Recently, many clusters of illnesses have been identified involving people who had eaten in restaurants. In one cluster, illnesses were linked to consumption of an item containing fresh tomatoes and fresh jalapeno peppers. In another two clusters, illnesses were linked to a food item containing fresh jalapeno peppers, leading federal officials to believe that jalapeno peppers caused some of the reported illnesses, the CDC said. Infection toll at 1,017; health officials add hot peppers and cilantro as suspect foods, along with tomatoes ... more -
US to base food inspectors overseas
In a response to the salmonella outbreak caused by Mexican tomatoes, the FDA is stationing inspectors in Asia and Latin America to help prevent the importation of tainted foods to the US. Is the FDA going too far? I don't see other countries stationing officials to check our exports. In a response to the salmonella outbreak caused by Mexican tomatoes, the FDA is stationing inspectors in Asia and Latin America to hel... more
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Florida tomato growers say industry in 'complete collapse'
Florida's tomato industry is in "complete collapse" and growers in California and Mexico are having trouble selling their crops as U.S. regulators hunt the source of a salmonella outbreak linked to certain tomato varieties, growers said on Tuesday.
In Florida, the No. 1 U.S. tomato producer, $40 million worth of tomatoes will rot unless the U.S. Food and Drug Administration quickly traces the source of the outbreak and clears the state's produce, an industry official said.
"We've had to stop packing, stop picking," said Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange.
"The stuff that should have been harvested over the weekend won't survive more than another day or so. The stuff we have in storage is getting riper every minute and at some point it will have to be disposed of," Brown said.
The FDA warned U.S. consumers on Saturday that the outbreak was linked to eating certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing those tomatoes.
Major restaurant and grocery chains stopped selling those varieties, and some stopped selling all raw tomatoes entirely.
U.S. growers produced $1.28 billion worth of tomatoes last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Florida produces an annual crop valued at $500 million to $700 million, and supplies more than 90 percent of the nation's tomatoes this time of year, Brown said.
snip
Mexican growers, who produce 84 percent of the tomatoes imported by the United States, were also feeling the pain.
"U.S. consumers have started to reject orders that have already been promised or sent and it is causing a lot of damage to producers," said Mario Robles, who directs the investigation arm of the vegetable association in the state of Sinaloa.
Mexico sends nearly 700,000 metric tons of tomatoes a year to the United States in a business worth $900 million, according to a Mexican vegetable exporters association.
Exports of Mexican agricultural products soared after the United States, Canada and Mexico lifted all tariff barriers under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.
But the benefits can easily be wiped out by a sanitary scare like the one in 2000, when the FDA identified a strain of salmonella in Mexican melons and banned their import.
That cut the $200 million annual export business down to around $3 million, said Robles, and Mexican growers fear the same could happen to tomatoes.
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Well, salmonella outbreaks usually occur when you water your crops with wastewater as Mexico does. Florida's tomato industry is in "complete collapse" and growers in California and Mexico are having trouble selling the... more -
Hold the tomatoes!
Fast food restaurants and grocery stores are pulling tomatoes from their shelves and menus.
Due to a salmonella outbreak, the FDA has advised grocery stores and restaurants to not serve / sale "raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes grown in certain U.S. states and other nations..."
Over 145 cases of salmonella have been reported, with 23 hospitalizations.
The safe list of tomatoes include: cherry and the grape variety and ones sold on the vine. Fast food restaurants and grocery stores are pulling tomatoes from their shelves and menus. ... more -
McDonald's pulls tomatoes from sandwiches over salmonella scare
"McDonald' s Corp. said Monday it has temporarily pulled tomatoes from its sandwiches in in the United States, a precautionary move in the wake of a salmonella outbreak.
Since mid-April, 145 people in at least 16 states have been infected with the bacteria known as Salmonella Saintpaul, which has been linked to raw tomatoes. The bulk of the cases have been in Texas and New Mexico, and 23 of them have required hospitalization." "McDonald' s Corp. said Monday it has temporarily pulled tomatoes from its sandwiches in in the United States, a precautiona... more -
Tomato salmonella illnesses spread to 16 states
Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has spread to 16 states, federal health officials said Saturday.
Investigations by the Texas and New Mexico Departments of Health and the U.S. Indian Health Service have tied 56 cases in Texas and 55 in New Mexico to raw, uncooked, tomatoes.
"We're seeing a steady increase," Deborah Busemeyer, New Mexico Department of Health communications director, said Saturday.
An additional 50 people have been sickened by the same Salmonella "Saintpaul" infection in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has spread to 16 states, federal health officials said Saturday. ... more -
Food poisoning alert: tomatoes in several US states
"An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
Lab tests have confirmed 40 illnesses in Texas and New Mexico as the same type of salmonella, right down to the genetic fingerprint. An investigation by Texas and New Mexico health authorities and the Indian Health Service tied those cases to uncooked, raw, large tomatoes." "An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states, U.S. health off... more -
State warns of salmonella outbreak involving uncooked tomatoes; recall likely
At least nine states, including Arizona, are reporting an outbreak of salmonella infections involving uncooked tomatoes.
So far the Yavapai County Health Department has not reported any cases in Yavapai County, but that could change at any time, said Michael Murphy, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health Services.
"There are numerous suspect cases," Murphy said.
So far a strain called Salmonella St. Paul has sickened five people from Maricopa, Pima, Apache and Coconino counties and sent one person to the hospital. No one has died, Murphy said.
The outbreak began in late April in Texas and New Mexico and then spread to Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Utah and Arizona.
So far the St. Paul strain of salmonella has infected at least 70 people nationwide and hospitalized at least 17.
Until inspectors can find the source of the outbreak, the state has a simple recommendation: "Don't eat tomatoes," state public information officer Janey Pearl said.
She recommends that people wash them or cook them really well.
Once the Food and Drug Administration identifies the specific grower of the tainted tomatoes, officials likely will issue a tomato recall, said Kenneth Komatsu, state epidemiologist for the Arizona Department of Health Services.
"The Food and Drug Administration is tracing back from individual food histories to find the distributors, the growers and how they were contaminated," Komatsu explained. "The FDA typically works with the stores, distributor and grower to conduct voluntary recalls."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arizona state health officials also are recommending people take the following steps:
• Do not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, especially if you are at increased risk of infection - this group includes infants, elderly people and those with impaired immune systems.
• Avoid buying bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
• Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under cool, running water.
• Refrigerate within two hours cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes, otherwise discard.
• Separate raw tomatoes from raw meats, seafood and other raw produce.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching among food types.
• Cook tomatoes at 145 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 15 seconds to kill salmonella.
• Wash hands often, especially after going to the restroom, before preparing or serving food, and after changing a diaper.
Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. Some people may need hospitalization because of severe diarrhea.
Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites, and can cause death. In severe cases, antibiotic treatment may be necessary. At least nine states, including Arizona, are reporting an outbreak of salmonella infections involving uncooked tomatoes. ... more -
I'll take my burrito with a side of activism
Found in St. Paul.
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