Nothing makes for fresh produce like sewage, open urination by workers, and storage next to rat-infested garbage and Port-A-Potties. That's what a hidden camera investigation by Joel Grover found at a So-Cal produce processing area found at the Seventh Street Produce Market in downtown LA. The market services thousands of SoCal restaurants and stores.
A lab test of samples at the market confirmed high levels of E. coli, Fecal Coli forms, and Listeria, which can cause food poisoning.
Unfortunately, there's nothing a consumer can do, really. Except to make more meals at home, and properly store, wash, and cook food, using appropriate temperatures. — BEN POPKEN
Contaminated: Produce Market Investigation [NBC4] (Thanks to Dave!)
]]>If you're expecting full and complete sanitation through the entire food production process I think you'll have to grow your own food indoors to see that happen.
]]>While the U.S. is not a third world country, I can assure you we're going to see more third world infections here if migrant populations continue working in poorly supervised parts of our food supply.
More accurately, we'll see more infections if farm owners don't implement more humane working conditions (or if farmworkers are not allowed to form a union and force better working conditions). Farmworkers are routinely forced to work in fields without bathrooms, leaving them to relieve themselves in the fields. Obviously, a public health risk.
]]>While the U.S. is not a third world country, I can assure you we're going to see more third world infections here if migrant populations continue working in poorly supervised parts of our food supply.
Actually, more accurately, we're going to see more third world infections unless growers/ag owners start implementing more humane working conditions for their workers. I don't know what the working conditions were in the video, but farmworkers routinely work in fields where no bathroom/sanitary facilities are provided, and are left to go in the fields. (Among other public health problems... e.g. farmworkers are routinely exposed to pesticides, fungicides, etc. etc.) Check out the United Farmworkers website for more info.
]]>Watch out for the guy behind him, though. I think he's got "protein fortification" on his mind...
]]>Here's hoping we we get more updates as this unfolds.
]]>
]]>