Gilroy
– Christopher Ranch recalled more than 1,000 pounds of fresh,
loose ginger from Northern California grocery stores after state
officials found the vegetables contained an unapproved
pesticide.
Gilroy – Christopher Ranch recalled more than 1,000 pounds of fresh, loose ginger from Northern California grocery stores after state officials found the vegetables contained an unapproved pesticide.
The California Department of Public Health reported Sunday that the ginger – distributed by Gilroy-based Christopher Ranch, better known as the world’s largest packer of an array of garlic products – carried aldicarb sulfoxide, a pesticide harmful to humans.
The company, which acquired the China-grown ginger from an Alhambra-based importer, Modern Trading, Inc., had already sent out 630 boxes of ginger to 14 stores, including Albertsons supermarkets.
“Consumers who may have purchased this product from Albertsons stores and Save Mart stores in northern California should discard it,” a department press release warned.
At low levels, the pesticide – which is used on potatoes, citrus fruits and cotton – can cause nausea, headache and blurred vision, according to the press release. The symptoms appear within an hour of ingestion and fade away about six hours afterward. At high levels, the pesticide can also induce dizziness, salivation, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, twitching and shortness of breath.
No reports of pesticide poisoning have been received as of Monday afternoon, Lea Brooks of the public health department said.
Save Mart Supermarkets, which operates Albertsons, has pulled fresh Chinese ginger from its shelves and offered to refund or replace any ginger purchased at its stores between July 10 and July 26.
Christopher Ranch, though it did not introduce the pesticide, is allowing supermarkets to which it distributed the ginger to return or destroy the product for a refund, said managing partner Bill Christopher.
“Since the ginger had our label on it, we stand behind it,” he said.
The recall could cost tens of thousands of dollars in product replacement and any resulting lawsuits due to pesticide poisoning, Christopher said. The company will likely try to recoup these costs from the importer, from whom it has been purchasing ginger for about a year.
When phoned, a representative of Modern Trading, Inc., said she did not have time to comment because she was busy with Los Angeles County health inspectors.
Regardless of the money Christopher Ranch gets from the importer, the company will not be able to recoup the damage to people’s perception of its products’ safety, Christopher said. To combat a negative image, the company – which has not recalled a product in at least three years – is testing jars of chopped ginger, even though the ginger in those jars is from a shipment separate from the tainted batch.
The ranch would not have bought the ginger if it did not believe it was safe and will make certain there is no similar future incident, Christopher added.
“When you buy from a U.S. company, you assume they abide by all the regulations,” he said. “We got duped by this company, and it’s not going to happen again.”
