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Fresh Produce

Wal-Mart, Kroger Pulling Some Cilantro Over Faeces Concerns

By Steve Wynne-Jones
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Wal-Mart, Kroger Pulling Some Cilantro Over Faeces Concerns

Wal-Mart and Kroger, two of the biggest sellers of groceries in the U.S., are pulling some cilantro from stores after human faeces and toilet paper were found in Mexican growing fields.

Wal-Mart is removing cilantro that came from the Mexican state of Puebla, where the problems were uncovered by U.S. regulators. The product came from a single supplier in the region and the chain isn’t aware of any contamination problem with that grower, Wal-Mart spokesman Aaron Mullins said. Kroger, meanwhile, is recalling cilantro in about 440 stores, mostly in the south-eastern U.S., and expects to quickly restock shelves with product from other regions.

“We’re not concerned about a shortage,” said Keith Dailey, a spokesman for Cincinnati-based Kroger. “More local growing areas are starting harvest for cilantro. We can quickly restock those stores.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration raised the concerns earlier this week, saying it would detain Mexican cilantro at the border from April to August. The agency won’t allow products from Puebla into the country without inspections and certification, according to the import ban. Cilantro from other parts of Mexico will need documentation to prove the product isn’t from Puebla, about a two-hour drive southeast of Mexico City. The agency has linked cilantro from the region to hundreds of cases of cyclosporiasis, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Wal-Mart is aware of the outbreak but doesn’t think any of its product was affected, Mullins said. The retailer isn’t expecting any shortages after pulling products from shelves.

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“In an abundance of caution, we decided to withdraw and prohibit sourcing any cilantro from this region,” he said.

It’s not clear how many other supermarket and restaurant chains may have the cilantro in stock. Michael Silverman, a spokesman for Whole Foods Market, said his company wasn’t affected by the FDA action. Safeway didn’t respond to requests for comment. Both Chipotle Mexican Grill and Yum! Brands’ Taco Bell said they don’t expect an impact from the partial ban.

Bloomberg News, edited by ESM

 

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