And answer questions - Case Study Example

Running Head: Case Analysis – Greene Gardens of Module #, Assignment # Answer #1 If I were Sam Greene, I would try to expedite the process of information collection on the matter since it would directly affect me and earn a bad reputation to my business. The important fact here is that it has not be ascertained whether or not spinach is the cause of the E.coli Outbreak, therefore I would try to get my sources dig deeper into the progress with the investigation. Along with this I would also do some research on the reasons behind an E.

coli outbreak and check if all the due measures are installed at my farming facilities for example make sure the manure is of good quality and get it tested so that I am on top of the problem at hand and am able to take corrective action at the earliest. Answer # 2 I would firstly think about tracking the source of the infection, since the matter concerns human life it is of an intricate nature and I would want to get to the bottom of it quickly, for example I would give a lab test of the soil and manure used on my ranches to see if strains of the bacteria were present.

Fresh vegetables such as spinach have frequently been said to be infected with the E. coli bacteria (World Health Organization, 2011). Therefore the probability of Greene Garden’s ranches being responsible also increases. I would next try and brainstorm with my team the measures which Greene Garden can take to reduce the threat to our vegetables, for example spraying the fields with pesticides etc and using better quality fertilizers in stead of animal manure (Mukherjeea, Spehb, & Diez-Gonzaleza, 2007).

However, an important concern over here would be the cost constraints, I would most certainly want to do all I can to ensure that my vegetables are not at risk, yet I would want to be cost effective in my actions. Answer # 3 The new information further increases the possibility of Greene Garden’s spinach being implicated. I would first want to get in touch with someone who is involved in the investigation and has first hand knowledge regarding the method being used to test the samples. Furthermore, I would like to find out what the FDA thinks might be the source of the bacteria, for example water is known to be a carrier of the E.

coli bacteria (Uzoigwe, O’Brien, & Brown, 2007) so may be getting the water tested would reveal the source of the pathogen. I would keep talking to the FDA officials and make my concerns evident to them so that they are aware of the fact that I am genuinely interested in finding out the cause and taking corrective action if my spinach is implicated because in such fragile situations it is important to have a good rapport with officials in strong positions. Additionally, I would make it a priority to run a public relations campaign regarding the safety precautions the consumers can take in order to keep themselves safe for example humans can get exposed to the E.

coli strain through food, animal contact, and drinking water and also from one person to another (European Food Safety Authority, 2011). Therefore, till the FDA is able to come to a conclusion, warning people of all the possibilities and safety measures would do the customers well and also render Greene Garden a good name. Answer # 4 I would talk to my contact person at Tossed Fresh and try to convince them to recall the product. It might be hard because recalling so many products leads to a lot of losses yet if the long term and short term goals are weighed against each other, the benefit from recalling the product far exceeds the long term loss of reputation if the spinach from Greene Garden was actually tested positive for E. Coli. I would also try to convince Tossed Fresh on the grounds that since GRT Salads along with two other companies had recalled products it would now reflect badly on Tossed Fresh if it did not recall its products.

It is understandable that the products have a small shelf life and that losses would be incurred, however, Tossed Fresh needs to see the bigger picture. Answer # 5 Even though the FDA implicated spinach, it is a possibility that at the source of the spinach (i.e. the field of ranches where the implicated spinach is grown), other vegetables might also be contaminated. To ensure this I would expedite the process of getting tests done on other vegetables of mine as well. This would also show the FDA my proactive attitude, as also my socially responsible attitude.

Answer # 6 I do think my initial reaction would be of panic and disappointment, since 80% of my produce went to GRT Salads and with every revelation of the FDA the chances of Greene Garden implication become more and more prominent. However, the fact that Greene Garden only constituted 20% of the GRT Salads portfolio is a beacon of hope. I would still instruct my staff to ensure that all the farming practices used are in line with the FDA guidelines and that no negligence will be tolerated. I would also run a public relations campaign emphasizing the fact that Greene Garden is extremely concerned about the deteriorating situation and that it is doing its due diligence to ensure that any lapses are taken care of.

Answer # 7 If Tossed Fresh initially refused to accept my proposition of recalling all the vegetables then I would ask them again by explaining the gravity of the situation and I strongly feel that any company which has a long term perspective would not without reason jump into the fire. Consequently, I feel that I would be successful in convincing Tossed Fresh to recall the product. Answer # 8 The news would come as a shock, however the fact that the contaminated feces was not present on my field shows that there might be some other reason for the contamination of my spinach and thus, getting to the root of that issue is important.

I would now talk to the FDA to guide and advise me as to how I could cleanse my ranches off the source of the E. coli strains and its source. Furthermore, it is important to find a more sustainable solution to this problem because E. coli outbreaks have become quite a routine now and people are dying because of it (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, 2009). I think it is very important for Greene Garden to think about the long term strategy of building a relationship with the customers and thus build a more positive relationship.

Answer # 9 I feel that all the members in the food business, particular in the green leafy vegetables should contribute to developing a more sustainable solution for example investing in technology (Connally, 2009) and machinery that would help take farming to a new level and thus restore the confidence of the clients in Green Gardens. Such technological advancements might require an increase in the overall prices of the vegetables in order to assimilate the cost associated with the latest technological improvements.

Works Cited Connally, E. H. (2009). Good Food Safety Practices: Managing Risks To Reduce Or Avoid Legal Liability. Food Safety And Technology, January , 1-5. European Food Safety Authority. (2011). Urgent Advice On The Public Health Risk Of Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli In Fresh Vegetables. European Food Safety Authority Journal , 2274. Mukherjeea, A., Spehb, D., & Diez-Gonzaleza, F. (2007). Association Of Farm Management Practices With Risk Of Escherichia Coli Contamination In Pre-Harvest Produce Grown In Minnesota And Wisconsin.

International Journal Of Food Microbiology Volume 120, Issue 3, December , 296–302. National Sustainable Agricukture Coalition. (2009). Food Safety On The Farm Policy Brief And Recommendations. National Sustainable Agricukture Coalition, October , 1- 22. Uzoigwe, J. C., O’brien, E. H., & Brown, E. J. (2007). Using Nutrient Utilization Patterns To Determine The Source Of Escherichia Coli Found In Surface Water. African Journal Of Environmental Science And Technology Vol. 1 (1), August , 007-013.

World Health Organization. (2011). Public Health Review Of The Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia Coli Outbreak In Germany. World Health Organization Review: Regional Office Europe , 7.