FDA to Test Leafy Greens

Sampling Effort for Lettuce Grown in Salinas Valley, California

Leaf lettuce to be tested by FDA Image from Pixabay

This week apparently safety of leafy greens week as there was an announcement on Tuesday from FDA about their new testing program of leafy greens at commercial coolers and cold storage facilities in the growing area in Salinas Valley, CA. From May to November 2021, the FDA plans to collect and test a total of approximately 500 post-harvest samples of iceberg, leaf, and romaine lettuce for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp.

If the FDA detects a pathogen they will conduct a follow-up investigation to identify potential sources and routes of contamination. Such investigations are designed to inform what additional preventive measures may be needed to help prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness.

This is a continuation of FDA’s work assuring leafy green safety.

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