FDA DROPS IMPORT ALERT, DEL MONTE DROPS LAWSUIT

The Food and Drug Administration lifted an import alert on Guatamalan cantaloupes from Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc. Sept. 27, according to a Del Monte news release.

The same day, Del Monte dropped a lawsuit against FDA regarding the import alert. The Coral Gables, Fla., company sued FDA August 22, stating FDA’s import alert “threatens the viability of a major import source for cantaloupes.”

Del Monte said it was fighting “erroneous speculation, unsupported by scientific evidence” made by the FDA and state health agency officials that the cantaloupes Del Monte imported from a Guatemalan grower were contaminated with salmonella.

In the Sept. 27 release, Del Monte vice president of marketing Dennis Christou said the company and FDA “have a mutual interest in the creation and enforcement of appropriate food safety measures that protect consumer health,” and the agreement shows FDA can work with importers such as Del Monte to achieve this mutual goal.
Source: The Packer