Requires the posting of signs near pre-packaged salads offered for sale notifying consumers of the advisability of washing the produce before consumption

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the posting of signs near pre-packaged salads

Purpose of general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to promote consumer awareness regarding proper handling and preparation of produce.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would add a new Section 213-a to the Agriculture and Markets Law.

The bill would require retail food stores which offer for sale any prepackaged salads to post a conspicuous sign warning consumers to wash such salads, as well as all produce, prior to cooking and/or consumption.

Justification

In January of 1998, the California State Attorney General filed suit claiming unsanitary practices against two makers of bagged salads, one of the two companies linked to an outbreak of E-coli food poisoning in New York, Connecticut and Illinois.

Some makers of pre-mixed salads actually label their bags with instructions not to wash the contents prior to consumption. According to tests, however, the produce was found to have higher than usual amounts of bacteria. After washing the produce, these same tests showed reduced levels of bacteria.

The U.S. Surgeon General recently stated in a speech to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that food-borne illness is a growing concern in the United States. The federal government is moving to further protect consumers from bacteria and viral disease in our food supply by: (1) increasing funding for food inspections; (2) requiring food stores establish a system of controls to evaluate safety hazards, determine necessary controls of hazards, and monitor and document the effectiveness of the controls; and (3) and restricting the importation of produce from countries with lower standards for safety.

Nevertheless, the federal government says there would be far fewer cases of food-borne illness if everyone followed certain guidelines for handling food safely. Unfortunately, many consumers have no access to this information. Providing consumers with information and access to experts for proper and safe handling and preparation of produce, as well as all food products, would greatly reduce the number of incidents of food poisoning, which would ultimately save lives.

Prior legislative history

2007-2008: A.119-A - Reported to Calendar No. 693 2005-2006: A.659 - Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection 2003-2004: A.3127 - Ordered to Third Reading Rules Cal. 602

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

Sixty days after enactment.