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What’s the connection between a controversial mega-dairy in Eastern Oregon and a listeria outbreak that this week prompted a nationwide recall of 42 brands of frozen vegetables?
The companies involved are trying to make that harder to find out, scrubbing the internet of all references to the ties.
On Tuesday, CRF Frozen Foods issued a recall of all organic and conventional frozen vegetables and fruit products processed in its Pasco, Wash. Facility since May 1, 2014. The recall encompasses 358 products sold to consumers and restaurants under 42 separate brands.
Vegetables processed at the plant under the Organic by Nature label, and possibly other labels, are grown on 8,000 acres at Threemile Canyon Farm, one of the largest dairies in the nation, with about 70,000 animals. Manure from the dairy is used to fertilize crops.
Both CRF Frozen Foods and Threemile Canyon Farm are owned by North Dakota-based potato processing giant R.D. Offutt Company, itself a subsidiary of South Dakota-based CSS Farms Inc.
And both companies are managed by Marty Myers, whose appointment to the Oregon Board of Agriculture last fall brought official complaints from at least 10 state and national groups who objected to his “factory farm” connections.
On Wednesday, the web sites of both Threemile Canyon and Organic by Nature got major overhauls. Passages and entire pages describing the connection between the two entities were removed.
For example this passage, on the home page Organic by Nature’s web site, disappeared on Wednesday:
“At the core of this wholesome organic food is our highly sustainable farm, located in the sun drenched soils of the Oregon Columbia River Basin. Threemile Canyon Farms puts it's "green" philosophy into practice, raising over 8,000 acres of 100% Certified Organic crops under strict standards of water conservation, soil preparation, and habitat preservation.”
And an entire page describing “The Farm” was removed.
Meanwhile, this sentence was removed from the Threemile Canyon Farms website on Wednesday:
“Threemile Canyon Farms is owned and operated by R.D. Offutt Company — Northwest, one of the nation's leaders in innovative agricultural practices.”
Myers could not be reached for comment Thursday.
R.D. Offutt bought the vegetable processing plant, and appointed Myers manager, in May 2013.
Eight people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria have been reported since September 2013.
The Centers for Disease Control began investigating the outbreak in March 2016. Its investigation showed that frozen vegetables from the plant are a likely source for the outbreak.
On April 23, CRF Frozen Foods recalled 11 frozen vegetable products, and on Tuesday it expanded the recall to all of its products.
CDC still is investigating whether food sources used to manufacture the frozen products could explain some of the illnesses.
A complete list of products and brands included in the recall is available at http://1.usa.gov/24vWbTw.
In addition to Organic By Nature, they include labels such as: Bybee’s, Columbia River Organics, Northwest Growers Select, Costco Wholesale in Canada, C.H. Belt’s, Chef Maxwell, Correct Choice, Earth’s Pride, Endico, Farmer’s Bounty, Fiesta Mart, The Inn, Live Smart, Parade, O Organic, Panda Express, Pantry Essentials, Safeway Kitchen, Signature Kitchens, Trader Joe’s, USDA, VIP, Wellsley Farms, McCain, Mity Fresh, Mountain Mist, Overhill Farms, Veggie Maria, Life Foods, Emerald Farms, Great Value, James Farm, Kirkland Signature, Price First, Quirch, Season’s Choice, Simply Nature, True Goodness, Wild Oats, and Woolworths.
tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/Tracy_Loew
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