The NSW Food Authority has disputed claims a listeria outbreak claiming the lives of six people has not be specifically linked to Rombola Family Farms.
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Rombola released a statement this morning confirming it had been approved to resume production, packing and selling of rockmelons.
A spokeswoman for the company said nothing had been found to link the listeria outbreak with Rombola’s washing, packing or storage methods, which the Authority has disputed.
“Whilst the NSW Food Authority identified a link to Rombola as the source of the listeria outbreak, neither the Authority nor an independent microbiologist identified any specific source associated with Rombola or with our washing, storage and packing facilities for rockmelons,” she said.
The Food Authority says direct links between Rombola and the listeria outbreak were found.
“The NSW Food Authority today again released details of testing for Listeria that identified Riverina property, Rombola Family Farms, as the source of the recent outbreak,” they said.
“It follows reports that there was no clear link to the property.”
NSW Food Authority confirmed it believes the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental and weather conditions contaminating the source of the fruit, “with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process”.
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In resuming trade, the company confirmed it will undertake daily voluntary testing of food, in addition to regular mandatory testing.
The incident left Griffith packers and growers uncertain of the potential impact on the market, supermarket giant Woolworths confirmed they “remain committed to the industry and the Riverina region”.
The outbreak infected 17 elderly people across the country, talking the lives of three Victorians and three people from NSW.
Rombola has also confirmed all rockmelons in the supply chain connected to the listeria oubreak have since been recalled and destroyed.
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Rombola statement in full:
The NSW Food Authority has approved Rombola Family Farms (Rombola) to resume the production, packing and sale of rockmelons. Rombola has met all requirements of the NSW Food Authority’s Clearance Program (Clearance Program) in order to resume production.
Whilst the NSW Food Authority identified a link to Rombola as the source of the listeria outbreak, neither the Authority nor an independent microbiologist identified any specific source associated with Rombola or with our washing, storage and packing facilities for rockmelons.
Management and staff of Rombola are saddened by the impact the listeria outbreak has had on the community and the rockmelon industry, and reminds people in high risk groups, including the elderly and pregnant women, to follow NSW Health and NSW Food Authority’s guidelines in relation to the preparation and consumption of rockmelon.
Rombola adheres to the strictest food safety standards, operating a clean, hygienic and highly-regulated facility in the NSW Riverina. The company will undertake regular mandatory testing of produce in accordance with the Clearance Program supplemented by further daily voluntary testing.
All rockmelons that were in the supply chain when the possible listeria connection was first identified in February 2018 have been recalled and destroyed.
The farm will recommence supply this week.
Food Authority Statement in full:
The NSW Food Authority today again released details of testing for Listeria that identified Riverina property, Rombola Family Farms, as the source of the recent outbreak.
It follows reports that there was no clear link to the property.
Genetic sequencing was used to test samples. More than 30 samples of melons through the supply chain, including retail and on farm, tested positive to Listeria monocytogenes.
Additional testing found L. monocytogenes in the packing area.
All L. monocytogenes samples had the same genetic sequence as human cases. NSW Food Authority believes the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental conditions and weather contaminating the surface of the fruit, with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process.
Throughout the incident the NSW Food Authority worked with the Australian Melon Association to support its members, providing a written letter to the association that they have made available to their members to share with buyers, advising of its confidence all affected product has been removed from the supply chain, and that rockmelons currently available for sale or export are not implicated in this outbreak.
Rombola Family Farms continues to work closely with the NSW Food Authority and has this week returned to supply rockmelons after testing cleared the property.
