Ontario greenhouse growers are reassuring the community that locally grown greenhouse vegetables remain a safe choice amid a recent spike in cases of cyclosporiasis in Windsor-Essex.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has confirmed 35 cases of the intestinal illness so far this year.
Public health officials say many of the local cases involve people who travelled to Michigan, where a much larger outbreak is ongoing.
Pre-shredded lettuce and salad greens are considered a potential source, although the investigation is ongoing.
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) produce tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in controlled indoor environments, and they state that greenhouse operations undergo annual third-party food safety audits, and also are under strict federal and international standards.
The organization says consumer confidence has taken a hit during the outbreak, with greenhouse vegetable sales dropping by as much as 10 per cent in the week following news of the outbreak.
Richard Lee, Executive Director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, says it’s important not to paint all fresh produce with the same brush.
“The recent cycles or outbreak involves shredded lettuce mainly and should not be viewed as a representative of all fresh produce. Ontario greenhouse vegetables, they’re grown in a controlled indoor environment and we use pretty strict food safety systems that are fundamentally different from outdoor field grown leafy greens.”
He says the conditions that are associated with this outbreak are fundamentally different from the way greenhouse growers produce vegetables.
“We have pretty strict traceability and food safety requirements that are audited on a day-to-day basis. We have detailed production records are maintained throughout the growing cycle. We’re doing constant water profiles and testing to ensure that that water is potable and used for the growing practices.”
Lee says consumers deserve confidence in their food.
“A good general practice that we encourage any consumers is that you should be washing your produce. You should be washing it under warm water and thoroughly to ensure that any handling of that produce, whether it be off the transport truck or at the retail level, or even handling it between the family members.”
Lee adds that local greenhouses are required to follow local, provincial, and federal legislation, and because much of that produce is exported to the United States, they also adhere to international rules - making it a very safe product to consume.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. Symptoms may include diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and a low-grade fever.
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers says while food safety incidents should always be taken seriously, consumers can remain confident in greenhouse-grown vegetables.