Letter to Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration - Need to Investigate Response to Outbreak of Listeriosis

Letter

Dear Commissioner Hamburg:

I write to you with significant concern about the recent outbreak of listeriosis, which sickened 32 people in 11 states. Ultimately, the outbreak claimed at least three lives including two in Minnesota. This is a harrowing reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of America's food supply. I urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expediently work to analyze the outbreak and the response in order to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.

In late December, public health officials began to investigate an outbreak of listeriosis linked to prepackaged caramel apples. The investigation involved the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state officials. The Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture, partners in Minnesota's Food Safety Center of Excellence, were key in identifying the source by pinpointing the brand names of caramel apples linked to the outbreak. Those efforts, along with those of FDA and other investigating agencies, allowed the outbreak to be traced to the supplier of the contaminated apples, Bidart Bros. in California. Inspection of plants at Bidart Bros. by the FDA and California Department of Public Health found Listeria that matched the strains of bacteria found in sickened patients. Bidart Bros. issued a recall for the contaminated apples on the same day, about three weeks after Minnesota had reported four illnesses.

Now that FDA and its partners have pinpointed the source of this deadly outbreak, I urge FDA to expediently complete its post-response analysis, which should include all collaborating state and federal agencies, and provide feedback to agencies and lawmakers on how similar outbreaks may be prevented or controlled quickly in the future. Specifically:

Federal and state partners were key in identifying the outbreak and tracing its source. What role did FDA, CDC, and state and local partners including CDC Food Safety Centers of Excellence play in responding to the outbreak and tracing its source? How did the different agencies coordinate their efforts? Could additional collaboration have led to a more effective or quicker response?

Was it necessary to wait for laboratory testing at Bidart Bros. and the discovery of Listeria there to do the recall, or could this recall have been done earlier based on the epidemiology and trace-back findings?

Had Bidart Bros. recently been inspected by federal or state food safety agencies? Does Bidart Bros. have a history of food safety violations?

Will FDA implement any new policies to prevent similar outbreaks in the future or improve response time and control outbreaks more quickly?

This outbreak highlights the critical importance of effective collaboration between FDA, CDC and state and local partners to protect Americans from harmful food products. I appreciate your prompt attention to the concerns outlined in this letter and look forward to continuing to work with the FDA to ensure the safety of American families.

Sincerely,

Source