From California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)
With the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, many consumers, restaurants and grocery stores are concerned about the safety of their produce and its origin. The California LGMA would like to assure the public that California lettuce and leafy greens are in full production and are not associated with the ongoing outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that many of the cyclospora cases were linked to iceberg lettuce grown in Central Mexico.
“Food safety is essential to consumer health and trust, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture takes our role seriously,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We know the repercussions can be significant, both for those who get ill and their families, as well as on business operations and local economies. Through the leadership of CDFA’s Inspection Services Division with our state and federal partners, the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement and other industry stakeholders, thousands of audits and farm inspections happen each year. We also participate in education events, research projects and work groups to continually improve food safety programs, support farming practice adoption and ensure food grown in California remains the safest in the country.”
Why California lettuce is at low risk for cyclospora contamination
LGMA has created a Cyclospora Fact Sheet to help everyone in the supply chain better understand why lettuce and leafy greens from California LGMA members are a low-risk commodity for cyclospora contamination. The bottom line is that California LGMA handlers follow science-based food safety metrics that address the key pathways associated with cyclospora contamination, making California leafy greens a very low-risk commodity. LGMA’s program focuses on preventing contamination before it occurs through risk identification, mitigation practices and continuous improvement.
Why CA LGMA members are low risk
- Mandatory food safety standards beyond regulatory requirements
- Rigorous agricultural water management to help reduce the potential introduction of pathogens
- Strong worker health and hygiene practices, including prohibiting persons with symptoms of infectious disease
How to know if I’m buying leafy greens from an LGMA member
- LGMA members produce approximately 90% of the leafy greens grown in the U.S.
- California LGMA members produce an estimated 78% of iceberg lettuce in the U.S.
- View this LGMA video to learn how to check if purchased leafy greens are LGMA certified
Click here to view the full LGMA article.