Tomatoes

U.S. continues investigation into Mexican tomatoes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has continued its investigations into Mexican tomatoes to determine if a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 500 people in the U.S. originated in Mexico, U.S. authorities said Monday.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt told a press conference in Mexico that their investigations have not finished and the representatives of both governments are continuing their work.

Leavitt arrived in Mexico Saturday to participate in activities by the American Chamber of Trade and returned to the U.S. Monday.

Over the past weekend, the U.S. has cleared tomatoes in 28 of 31 Mexican states from suspicion in the recent salmonella outbreak. However, the States of Sinaloa, Coahuila and Jalisco are still under suspicion.

Mexico's tomato exports, a big source of income for farmers, were all but halted by the salmonella outbreak, which began in April.

Leavitt said the Mexican government has offered much help and he expects to solve the problem as soon as possible.

"It is a sensitive issue and very important for economy, therefore we are working in a responsible way because there is an obligation to guarantee the products are safe," Leavitt said.

During the weekend, Leavitt also met with Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova and Economy Minister Eduardo Solo to discuss the tomato issue among other issues of common concern.

In addition, the United States wanted to open an office in Latin America to monitor food safety.

Leavitt said the main goal of the planned FDA office would be to ensure that food and other products from Latin America are safe for consumption or use.

Leavitt said safeguards in producer countries were key.

"We simply cannot inspect our way to product safety," he said. "Our new strategy, as I proposed it, would be, rather than stand at the border, to roll the borders back, and to find those places where products are actually being produced for American consumption."

(Published by China View - june 24, 2008)