US: Kroger ceases bean sprout sales
In doing this it joins Walmart who ceased sales of the product line in 2010, for the same reason.
"After a thorough, science-based review, we have decided to voluntarily discontinue selling fresh sprouts," Payton Pruett, Kroger's vice president of food safety, said in a statement.
"This is big," said Marion Nestle, a professor of food safety at New York University. "This is a major retailer saying 'We aren't going to take it anymore. We can't risk harming our customers, and our suppliers are unwilling or unable to produce safe sprouts.' "
The industry's trade group has expressed its concern over the move and says it is working to make sure its products are safe to consume.
"We hope that the Kroger decision doesn't have a domino effect," said Bob Sanderson, president of the International Sprout Growers Association.
"We're trying, but it's very challenging," Sanderson said. "These organisms can be anywhere." The industry is also working towards a "sprout-specific" food safety audit for producers.
Between 1990 and 2010, more than 2,500 Americans were sickened by contaminated sprouts in at least 46 outbreaks, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella was identified in 37 of the 46 outbreaks, E. coli with eight and listeria with one.
Source: usatoday.com
