The company behind last week's lettuce recall says it has suspended some of its farming and processing operations while investigations are carried out.
Victorian company, Tripod Farmers, says it expects further test results to reveal more as it seeks to determine and fix the cause of the salmonella contamination that came to light last week.
The company decided to suspend some operations despite gaining clearance by health authorities to resume harvesting and packaging lettuce products.
Tripod Farmers MD, Frank Ruffo, said the company was now focused on the health and safety of consumers, establishing the cause of the problem, and fixing it.
“The detections of salmonella were part of routine testing on product as part of the company’s standard food safety and quality program.
“In the interests of public safety, we have recalled the entire production batches from which the positive samples were detected.
“We are continuing to work closely with health authorities to determine the cause and extent of the problem, and with our customers to manage an effective recall.
“The company apologises to everyone affected by the recall, and thanks the public for the way it is responding to the recall,” Ruffo said.
Vegetable grower body Ausveg, meanwhile, is urging Australian consumers to continue buying the fresh and prepackaged vegetable products available throughout Australia.
“Food safety incidences in the Australian vegetable industry are exceedingly rare, and consumers can be confident in buying the fresh and prepackaged vegetable products that are available,” Ausveg national manager of scientific affairs Dr Jessica Lye said.
“The events of last week have had a substantial impact on growers around the country, including in states unaffected by the recall, and AUSVEG is calling on Australian consumers to throw their support behind the Australian vegetable industry and continue to buy locally-grown produce.”
“This recent recall is not indicative of a systematic food safety issue in the vegetable industry – it is limited to one supplier, and all affected product has been taken off the shelves.”
“There is a large number of lettuce growers right around the country who currently supply leafy vegetables to Coles, Woolworths and other retailers, and consumers can have faith in the quality of the product that these growers are supplying.”
A list of the recalled products can be found here.
