| TO: | DDS Regional Directors, STS Director, CTH Coordinators, Private Providers, CO Quality Management Personnel |
| FROM: | Daniel A. Micari, Director, Quality Management Services |
| DATE: | September 6, 2011 |
| RE: | Food Safety Advisory - Produce Exposed to Flood Waters |
Food Safety Advisory
From the CT Department of Public Health Food Protection Program, 860-509-7297:
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has distributed guidance documents to Produce Farmers and Market Masters. Similar advice would apply to community/town or school gardens, residential gardens, and gardens at food service establishments. The main point of their message is that any fruits or vegetables that have come in contact with flood waters [including water from wells that became submerged because of the flood] should be destroyed as they may be contaminated. Produce exposed to flood waters would be considered adulterated and unfit for human consumption in food service establishments.
The Dept. of Agriculture guidance documents may be accessed at www.ct.gov/doag. An Important Message to Commercial Growers and Livestock Owners Consumers with questions may be directed to the UCONN Cooperative Extension System at 203-407-3163. Extension fact sheets are available at www.canr.uconn.edu under ‘Hot Topics’.
Please ensure those responsible are aware of this important food safety. Please distribute this information throughout your organization and contacts.