U.S. Officials Scrutinize Mexican Green Onions

Channel 3000 ^ | 12/1/2003 | The Associated Press

[yonif]

MEXICALI, Mexico -- U.S. inspectors are in Mexico to visit onion exporters following a hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania that killed three people and sickened more than 600 others.

A Food and Drug Administration official said the inspectors are checking to see if conditions are up to U.S. standards.

Contaminated green onions from Mexico are blamed for the outbreak among people who ate at a suburban Pittsburgh Chi-Chi's restaurant, as well as smaller outbreaks in Tennessee and Georgia.

The official said inspectors want to make sure that no more contaminated food is being shipped.

Mexico has shut down four green onion export companies -- three of which are owned by U.S. firms -- because the plants did not comply with national health standards.

[WackyKat]

Gringos who don't want Mexican feces on their vegetables are just a bunch of racists.

[billorites]

"Gringos who don't want Mexican feces on their vegetables are just a bunch of racists."

Depends how they're prepared.

[Tacis]

They are checking onions while Presidente Fox sends 200 tons of dope across the border every year and receives cash shipments in return. That is a misplaced priority.

[Looking for Diogenes]

"U.S. inspectors are in Mexico to visit onion exporters following a hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania that killed three people and sickened more than 600 others."
They are checking onions while Presidente Fox sends 200 tons of dope across the border every year and receives cash shipments in return. That is a misplaced priority.

Are you serious? Don't you consider the deaths of at least three people and the permanent damage to 600 others to be a serious problem?

[shamusotoole]

Why are we sending US Inspectors to Mexico? It seems to me I would pay a higher price for US grown, and inspected green onions that are trustworthy. Mexico will make changes if there are market consequences. Instead of economic consequences, I see subsidy and no change of behavior.

Let the market sort things out!!!

[Looking for Diogenes]

"Mexico has shut down four green onion export companies -- three of which are owned by U.S. firms -- because the plants did not comply with national health standards." Mexico will make changes if there are market consequences. Instead of economic consequences, I see subsidy and no change of behavior.

The Mexican government (belatedly) shut down three US-owned firms. The sooner that they are re-opened the sooner those companies can go back to making money.

How much extra are you willing to pay for 'safe' onions? Or more to the point, how much more are restaurants willing to pay?