RE: The industry letter to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt

Dear Produce Industry Members,

As you know, on June 17, United Fresh and PMA sent a joint letter to Secretary Michael Leavitt, Health and Human Services, requesting a meeting to discuss lessons learned specific to the current Salmonella saintpaul outbreak and ways to improve outbreak management in general.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversees both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

To date we have not yet heard back from Secretary Leavitt.  So today, United Fresh and PMA sent a follow up letter to Secretary Leavitt again requesting a meeting to discuss these issues.

As always, we will keep you updated as new information becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to contact Amy Philpott, Vice President, Communications, 202-303-3400 ext. 425.