LGMA Releases New, Stricter Water Use Rules for Leafy Greens Growers
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has voted for stronger, mandatory food safety practices for farmers.
The new standards, voted on by the LGMA Board on April 19th, are in direct response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s investigations of last year’s Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks involving romaine lettuce. The first outbreak—traced to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, AZ, growing region—occurred last spring, resulting in 210 confirmed illnesses in 36 states, 96 hospitalizations, and five deaths. The second outbreak—traced to lettuce from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California—occurred in the fall, sickening 62 people—25 of whom had to be hospitalized—in 16 states. No deaths were reported.