The US FDA has announced an ongoing surveillance program started in October 2017 will continue through 2018 until they collect at least 1600 samples each of fresh cilantro, parsley and basil. FDA inspectors will be visiting farm packinghouses, wholesale packers, domestic and import warehouses and shippers, as well as retail purveyors, From their press release,
From 1996 to 2015, the FDA reported nine [food born illness] outbreaks linked to basil, parsley, and cilantro, which resulted in 2,699 illnesses and 84 hospitalizations. Four of the outbreaks were linked to basil, three to cilantro, and two to parsley.
Since these fresh herbs are grown low to the ground, they are susceptible to contamination, such as from irrigation or rain water splashing soil, and they are typically eaten without undergoing a ‘kill step,’ such as cooking, to reduce or eliminate bacteria. Seven of the nine outbreaks were attributed to Cyclospora cayetanensis; one to E. coliO157:H7; and one was Shigella sonnei. With this survaillance program, the FDA is seeking to obtain baseline estimates of the prevalence of these contaminants in these 3 fresh herb crops.
More details about how and when sampling will occur this season are available from the FDA press release. While these are not enforcement inspections, FDA inspectors will be making unannounced visits to wholesale packing/shipping and retail outlets. Farm packinghouse visits will be preceded by a call at least 24 hours in advance to notify the owners/operators.
Keep in mind that “sampling is a routine and critical activity that the FDA is authorized to conduct as part of its charge to ensure the safety of the food supply.”
