Well, that was fast and easy. It only took 14 weeks to determine that the salmonella outbreak was probably related to jalapeno peppers from Mexico. Probably. Of course others are still saying tomatoes could also be involved. Maybe. All clear now?
Among top questions: Did the farm, packing house and distributors all use clean water? What fertilizer was used, and when? Given this distributor's small size, who else distributed contaminated supply — or could there have been cross contamination with other products?
While health officials were cautiously excited at finally finding a firm clue, lawmakers decried the probe's slow pace.
"The fact that it has taken over 14 weeks to identify the source of the contamination is simply unacceptable," said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., who is pushing for stronger requirements to help trace tainted produce. "Much like (the) tomato industry, the result is a blanket warning that will decimate the entire industry and further depress consumer confidence when only a tiny fraction of peppers may be contaminated."
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