Our products are safe say greenhouse vegetable growers

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

Extensive coverage of deaths in Europe from a mysterious bacteria linked to eating raw vegetables has prompted an Ontario grower organization to reassure consumers here eating provincially-grown produce is safe.

George Gilvesy, general manager of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), says they haven’t received calls from consumers but they have been following the international and national press coverage on the matter. “We felt that we wanted to get out to our consumers to make sure they feel some comfort,” he says.

Will the situation in Europe affect vegetable sales in Ontario? Gilvesy says they hope not. 

In a press release issued today, OGVG says Ontario greenhouse vegetable products are safe. Provincial growers are required to follow strict food safety requirements, including regular third-party audits, as part of meeting their licensing requirements. The organization assures consumers Ontario-grown greenhouse vegetables are produced according to the highest food safety standards.

OGVG recommends consumers look for the "Product of Canada" or "Product of Ontario" designation on their produce labels to ensure they are buying Ontario-grown greenhouse vegetables.

In Germany, 18 people have died and more than 2,000 people have fallen ill during the past month due to an outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria. The source of outbreak isn’t known but German authorities have warned consumers in that country against eating raw vegetables. BF