Update 12/14/06 5:00 pm PST
December 14, 2006, 5:00 pm PST, Oxnard, CA Boskovich Farms was informed earlier today that the only two lawsuits brought against Boskovich Farms, in relation to the Taco Bell outbreaks, have been voluntarily dismissed by the law firm that brought them.
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Update 12/13/06 5:00pm PST
December 13, 2006, 5:00 pm PST, Oxnard, CA Earlier today, the FDA and CDC announced that lettuce was the most likely source of E. coli associated with the recent illnesses at several northeastern Taco Bell restaurants. The announcement included the statement: “This analysis also indicates that onions of any type are not linked to this outbreak.”
We are providing this statement in response to numerous inquiries from concerned consumers and the media.
Throughout this difficult time, we have remained confident that our green onions are safe, and our Quality Assurance Program and extensive testing reinforce that belief. Boskovich Farms is a family owned and operated business, founded in 1915. We are proud of the fact that four generations of the Boskovich Family have devoted their careers to the production of quality, wholesome produce, including green onions, our signature product.
We have built our reputation on supplying safe, quality vegetable products to foodservice, retail and wholesale companies nationwide.
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Update 12/12/06 4:00pm PST
December 12, 2006, 4:00 pm PST, Oxnard, CA In response to media inquiries, Boskovich Farms issued the following statement:
Clearly, we took note of
yesterday’s news of the negative test results for green onions. We appreciate
that the tests done by the CDC, FDA and New York State Department of Health, as
well as Taco Bell, have all shown green onions were likely not the source of the
outbreak and have confirmed to consumers that green onions are safe to eat.
These test results echo the negative results of extensive testing that we have
voluntarily done here at Boskovich Farms.
Nothing is more important to members of the Boskovich Family and all of us at
Boskovich Farms, than the safety of our consumers, and we remain confident in
the safety of our products.
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Updated Statement 12/11/06 5:00PM PST
December 11, 2006 5:00PM PST, Oxnard, CA In response to media inquiries regarding the recent E. coli O157 illnesses linked to Taco Bell Restaurants, Boskovich Farms issues the following statement:
We have been informed by Taco Bell that the green onion samples which had previously been reported as “presumptive positive” have tested “negative” when subjected to confirmation testing by both the commercial laboratory which had originally reported the presumptive positive results and the FDA laboratory.
Additionally, according to media reports, the State of New York has confirmed that a labeling mistake resulted in reporting a green onion sample as positive for E. coli O157, while in reality the sample which had tested positive was either a white or yellow onion sample.
The safety of consumers is our top priority and we are committed to continued cooperation with all agencies as they try to determine the cause of this tragic situation.
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Statement Regarding Taco Bell Green Onions - Update 12/8/06 2:00PM PST
December 8, 2006 2:00PM PST, Oxnard, CA Boskovich Farms continues to cooperate with both Taco Bell and Ready Pac, its regional processing company, to understand all it can about recent illnesses associated with Taco Bell restaurants in the northeastern United States. We would like to reiterate our concern for everyone who has fallen ill. Our thoughts are with them and their families at this time.
To date, Boskovich Farms still has not been contacted by any state or federal government agency, and it is our understanding that investigators have not yet identified the cause of the illnesses.
We have received questions about the growing region of the green onions supplied to Ready Pac. The bulk green onions used for processing were grown by Boskovich Farms in the Oxnard region only. Other packs of green onions sold for retail, wholesale and foodservice packages, bunched and iceless, are grown in a different region and are not in question regarding the recent illnesses.
Boskovich Farms’ focus will remain on ensuring our products and operations are safe and free of contamination, and on assisting the ongoing investigation in every way we can.
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Statement regarding Taco Bell Green Onions
December 6, 2006, Oxnard, CA . Although Boskovich Farms has not been contacted by the FDA or any other government agency, we are aware of the reports of illnesses associated with Taco Bell restaurants in the Northeastern United States, possibly related to processed green onions. Boskovich Farms provides bulk green onions to third party processors approved by Taco Bell. As a supplier of green onions to Taco Bell, we are currently working closely with both Taco Bell and their highly regarded regional processing company in support of the voluntary action taken by Taco Bell.
Boskovich Farms has been an industry leader in developing and implementing food safety programs to reduce the risk of microbial contamination. Our program includes Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the growing fields and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in our packing and processing plants. We have a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan to monitor critical points in our processed food operations. Boskovich Farms conducts regular audits of the program by an internal food safety team and is verified by certified independent third party auditors.
Boskovich Farms is a trusted brand and an industry leading supplier of fresh vegetables since 1915. We share a common priority with Taco Bell which is the health and safety of the public, and are deeply saddened to hear that people have fallen ill.