Sludge Watch ==> Onion Listeria Outbreak Calif : Monterey or Imperial Valley?

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Again - what is the role of sewage effluent in this onion listerial 
outbreak?
Was it the sewage effluent from the Monterey sewage treatment plant in 
Salinas onion fields?
Or was it irrigation water from Imperial Valley waters contaminated by 
Imperial Valleys disgusting sewage treatment plants?

Here is a sample of their wastewater noncompliance:
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb7/agendas/2005/january/0119-13mnpdes.doc

Or was it from one of the Imperial Valley's 38 confined animal feeding 
operations?

As the Food Safety Network says "Don't Eat Poop".

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Onion firm linked to recall has local ties
25.jun.07
Salinas Californian
http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20070625/BUSINESS/706250329/1046Onion firm linked to recall has local 
ties

Possible Listeria contamination prompts company to act
Staff report


Gills Onions, an Oxnard-based company with operations in Monterey County, 
said none of the onions it voluntarily recalled last week were grown in the 
Salinas area.

A possible Listeria contamination led the company to recall 45,500 pounds of 
onions. The onions had been sold to restaurants and Trader Joe's stores in 
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

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Nelia Alamo, a Gills Onions spokeswoman, said all the onions involved were 
grown in the Imperial Valley.

The company also has a large growing area in south Monterey County.

"We harvest onions in Monterey County from August through November, and we 
put them into cold storage," Alamo said.

Gills Onions started the recall after sampling conducted by the Washington 
State Department of Agriculture found Listeria monocytogenes in a pouch of 
Trader Joe's onions.

The onions on sale at Trader Joe's are in 10-ounce, re-sealable plastic 
pouches and carry the Trader Joe's brand name. Officials said consumers 
should avoid packages with the lot code 2017-R22 1956D and with a 
best-used-by date of June 16, 2007 on the back.

Restaurant and other food service operators should look for cartons 
containing 4- and 5-pound bags of Gills Onions Brand or Sysco Natural Brand 
onions.

Gills Onions started the recall after sampling conducted by the Washington 
State Department of Agriculture found Listeria monocytogenes in a pouch of 
Trader Joe's onions.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, 
abdominal pain and diarrhea. Infections can sometimes be fatal in newborns, 
the elderly and people with weak immune systems. A Listeria infection can 
also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

California Public Health Officer Mark Horton said no illnesses had been 
reported.