Deadly Cantaloupe Outbreak Blamed on Bad Audits
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Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The deadliest recorded outbreak of foodborne illness in U.S. history resulted from a system of self-regulation that has repeatedly failed to protect the public, a congressional investigation released to ABC News on Tuesday concludes.
Late last year, at least 30 deaths and one miscarriage were caused by listeriosis linked to cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Colorado. But long before the outbreak, Jensen Farms had repeatedly received a clean bill of health from an independent company hired by the owners to review food safety practices.
But rather than help keep the melons safe, a new report from Congress reveals that those auditors helped put in place practices that led to the outbreak.
“It appears that the auditors who inspected Jensen Farms did more than simply overlook egregious food safety practices,” the report says. “They specifically recommended these practices.”
Auditors also warned Jensen Farms, sometimes weeks in advance, before inspections. And when problems were found, the auditors still gave Jensen Farms glowing reviews and failed to notify the FDA.
“These problems are unlikely to be limited to Jensen Farms, however. The officials the committee interviewed indicated that the practices used at Jensen Farms are similar to those used in thousands of other food safety inspections,” the report reads.
Bad audits also were blamed for the 2009 outbreak of salmonella linked to the Peanut Corporation of America and to the 2010 outbreak of salmonella linked to Wright County Egg.
The FDA is charged with inspecting produce farms and facilities. But the agency is unable to visit more than once every few years. In the interim, the produce industry relies on third-party auditors.
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