Jensen Farms Listeria monocytogenes contamination: Lesson learned?

By Mark Astley

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Food safety Listeria monocytogenes Listeria

Food safety authorities traced the outbreak to Jensen Farm whole cantaloupes. (Photo copyright: United States Government Work)
Food safety authorities traced the outbreak to Jensen Farm whole cantaloupes. (Photo copyright: United States Government Work)
US authorities are yet to establish regulations relating to third-party food plant auditors – six months after the start of an outbreak later attributed to lacklustre third-party inspection practices.

Third-party auditors gave Colorado-based cantaloupe producer Jensen Farms a “superior”​ rating, only months before a Listeria monocytogenes contamination at the company’s facilities led to an outbreak of listeriosis across the US.

A US government report found that several individuals who conducted inspections at Jensen Farms facilities largely ignored FDA anti-microbial guidance.

Speaking to FoodQualityNews.com, Colorado State University associate professor of food microbiology Dr Lawrence Goodridge appealed to industry figures to take lessons from the event.

The food safety expert, who provided advice to Colorado state officials during the outbreak, has called for the implementation of stricter regulations surrounding the practices of third-party auditors in the US.

A total of 146 people across 28 states were infected with any of the four outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes, of which 30 died.

Several more deaths have unofficially attributed to the outbreak.

The contamination, which officially began on 2 September 2011, went on to become the worst foodborne outbreak in modern US history.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Sustainable Sweetening Solutions from ADM

Sustainable Sweetening Solutions from ADM

Content provided by ADM | 13-Oct-2023 | Product Brochure

ADM understands sweetness—and sustainable sourcing. Not only do we have the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of sweetening solutions, we also are...

 Four actionable steps to reduce allergen recalls

Four actionable steps to reduce allergen recalls

Content provided by FoodChain ID | 04-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Failing to mitigate allergen risks has serious consequences - not just for consumer safety, poor allergen procedures can also cause financial losses and...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars