Heidi Kassenborg DVM, MPH

Director

Dairy and Food Inspection Division

Heidi.kassenborg@state.mn.us

Mission of the

Minnesota Department of

Agriculture

“… to enhance the quality of life for all

Minnesotans by ensuring the

integrity of our food supply, the

health of our environment, and the

strength of our agricultural economy.”

Integrity of the Food Supply

Farm

Processor

Distributor Retail

Home/Restaurant

Minnesota Departments of Health,

Agriculture Laboratory/Program

Buildings

Tony BeckerSafety Administrator

Minnesota Department of AgricultureJune 20, 2008

Brenda FitzgeraldGraphic Arts Specialist

Dairy and Food Inspection Division

Laboratory Services Division

Greg BuzickyDirector Pesticide and Fertilizer Management

(Reports to Joe Martin)

Agricultural Statistics

Division

Agricultural Development & Financial Assistance Division

Joe MartinAssistant Commissioner

Linda WestromAssistant to Commissioner

Michael SchommerState Program Admin Manager

Finance and Budget

Division

Carol MilliganManagement Analyst 4

Robin KinneyAssistant Commissioner

Douglas HartwigState Statistician (Federal )

Larry PalmerInformation Systems Director

(Reports to Jim Boerboom)

David Allen Info Mgmt Services Asst

Division Director

Kurt WoodInfo Systems

Software Services

Supervisor

(part-time)

Thanh Nguyen

Randy HeilITS 3 (Network)

Kim VonToft

Richard Jordan

Beth Eisen ITS 2

Stacy Gulden

Kabao Her Graphic Arts Specialist

Luanne Van

Avery

ITS 3

(Application)

Todd RammerMary Benner

(Part Time)

Jason AndrewsITS4 (Network)

Information Technology Division

Food Inspection Section

Human Resources

Sue MillerPersonnel Representative

Sherry Thomas-Berry Personnel Officer Senior

Rodie KinneyPersonnel Aide

Safety and Health

Agricultural Marketing Services Division

Jim Gryniewski (temporary unclassified)

Director Warehouse Audit Division

James JohnsonWarehouse Examiner Supervisor

Grain Licensing &

Auditing

Wholesale Produce

Mitchell Bauer (Nerstrand)

Mike Arnold (Bemidji)

Howard Rengo (St. Cloud)

Warehouse Examiner Senior

John MalmbergAuditor Intermediate

Livestock Weighing &

Dealer Licensing

John SerbeskuLaw Compliance Representative 2

Mark Garms (Full-Time)

John Luinenberg (Full-Time)

Garvin Prins (Intermittent)

John Palmer (Full Time)

Edward Henning (Intermittent)

(Worthington)

Livestock Weigher 1

Brian Erickson

Paul HuguninAg Marketing Spec Senior

Ruth WhiteState Prog Admin Senior

(Marketing)

Linda Rowley OAS Principal

Mary HanksPlanning Program Supervisor

Linda BougieOAS Principal

Alison FishOAS Intermediate

Wayne MonsenPlanner Senior State

(Non Point Source

Pollution)

Meg MoynihanPlanner Senior State

(Sustainable

Agriculture)

VacantPlanning Program Supervisor

Financial

Assistance

Robert PattonPlanner Principal State

(Ag Land Preservation)

Anthony Cortilet

John Luhman

Jeanne Ciborowski

Monika ChandlerResearch Scientist 2

Gary BlahoskyLoan Officer Senior

Jill BemisAccounting Director

Joyce WalkoszClerk 4 Supervisor

Linda JensonAccounting Technician

Mike ZabelAccounting Supervisor Senior

Adam TorresOAS Principal

Julie RoehlenAccount Clerk Senior

Sandy HinrichsAccounting Technician

Jeff MittelholtzCashier

Gary HorvathProject Manager

(Temporary Unclassified)

(Reports to Jim Boerboom)

Douglas BakkerAssistant Director Lab

Services Division

Bryanne ShawBacteriologist Supv 2

Margaret Andrew-Jaja

Sumol ThungkaewMedical Laboratory

Technician 1

Treeske EhresmannEnvironmental Analyst

Supervisor 2

Elisa SwansonAg Lab Sample

Information Supervisor

Atanacio MezaBuyer 1

Michelle CampbellResearch Scientist Supv 2

(State Chemical Labs)

Phillip HansenEnvironmental Analyst

Supervisor 2

Edward Balcer

Richard Buhl

Yoko Johnson

Randall Moylan

Kathy Reynolds

Mark Peil

Brian KrengelEnvironmental Analyst 3

Mike MuggliAgronomy Services

Supervisor

Louise OgdenState Program Admin

Principal

Dave ReadState Prog. Admin. Manager Sr.

Lorna Girard (St. Paul)

Food Inspection Supervisor

Stephen Clancy (W St. Paul)

Mike Rygwalski (Maplewood)

David Seipel (White Bear Lake)

JoNell O'Neil (Oakdale)

Wilson Barfkecht (Cambridge)

Jim Topie (Duluth)

Lowell Urban (Duluth)

Katherine Simon (New Prague)

Food Inspector 2

Larry Kruger (Rochester)

Food Inspection Supervisor

Richard Kavanagh (DeGraff)

Andrew Cibert (Albert Lea)

Bernet Gunderson (Winger)

Russ Kunkel (Hines)

John Sabetti (Eveleth)

Doris Ruley (Garfield)

Jason Gibbs (Red Wood Falls)

Food Inspector 2

Greg Pittman(Southern Region)

Food Inspection Supervisor

Dawn Hauge (Winona)

Part-Time

Alan Nelson (Renville)

Pat Hansen (Farmington)

Lisa Ramacher (Watertown)

Chuck Lawrence

(Le Center)

Dayle Radde (Norwood)

Dana Mock (Kasson)

Sarah Mellgren

(Zumbro Falls)

Dairy Inspector 2

Joe Dittrich (St. Charles)

Roger Sik (Lake Benton)

Keith Graner (Red Wing)

Interstate Milk Rating Officer

Heidi KassenborgState Prog Admin Manager Principal (Food Safety)

(Reports to Joe Martin)

Dan StoddardAgronomy Asst. Dir. Environ.

Reg.

Paul Liemandt Agronomy Asst. Dir Environ. Reg.

Sharon EmertOAS Senior

Human Resources and

Diversity DivisionPesticide and Fertilizer Management Division

Pat ShierOAS PrincipalGail Ryan

Management Analyst 4

Jim BoerboomDeputy Commissioner

Marie Juenemann

Constance Holth (Rice)

Hydrologist 2

Fertilizer Management

Unit

Stacy WeldonOAS Intermediate

Gary BraunAgric. Program Supervisor Roger Binning

Research Analyst

Specialist Senior

Financial Operations

Payroll

Accounts Payable

Central Services

Program Accountants

Gene HugosonCommissioner

Steve ErnestFinancial Management

Director

(Reports to Jim Boerboom)

Russ HavirPersonnel Program Manager

(Reports to Jim Boerboom)

Neil CunninghamInformation Officer 1

John PiazzaManagement Analyst

3

Linda Lieder OAS Intermediate

Diane WindhamManagement Analyst

2

Mark ZumwinklePlanner Intermediate

Barbara

Weismann(Part Time)

Planner Senior State

Deanna MattesonAccounting Officer Int.

Rose BoulosCSAS, Intermediate

Kay SchmditOS

Thomas FasenAccounting Technician

Kurt MarkhamDirector Agricultural Marketing Services

(Reports to Robin Kinney)

Roger Johanning

John McQuiston (intermittent)

(Worthington)

Livestock Weigher 2

Kristy Broten

Kelly Swartout

Michelle Swarbrick

Librada BautistaChemist 2

Erin EllisEnvironmental Analyst 2

Jewel MihmState Program Admin.

Prin. Lab Cert.

Deepa MathurBacteriologist 1

Royce FullerEnvironmental Analyst 1

Barton Olson

Dean Wagner (intermittent )

Matthew ForstnerBacteriologist Lab Specialist

Terry Varing

Rosemary KoenenOAS Senior

Robert LangForensic Evidence

Specialist

Roger Stetler (Waseca)

Jan Kelly (Walnut Grove)

Anthony Loosbrock (Dalton)

Food Inspector 3

Linda Kollos

Breahnna MutchOAS

David Grussing

(Sauk Centre)

Wayne Nygard (St. Cloud)

Gary Hoffman (Detroit Lakes)

Charles Owen (Willmar)

Burt Scripture (Motley)

Shawn Neumann (Staples)

Food Inspector 2

Jill Denkinger (Glenwood)

Carol Konkol (Cambridge)

Stacie Schanus (Brooklyn Park)

Audrey (Eileen) Schmidt (Hanska)

Jennifer Hedeen(Paynesville)

Food Inspector 1

Paul StrandbergSenior Executive Officer

Mavis BergOAS Principal

Su YeResearch Analyst

Specialist Senior

Sustainable Agriculture &

IPM

Environmental

Review & Land

Use

Brent Furlano

Michele Flottmeyer

Lynn Cardwell

Zena Kassa

Patricia Kirby

Jerry KarschnikAnalytical Lab Specialist

LeeAnn JohnsonResearch Scientist

Supervisor 2

(State Biological Labs)

Carla JohnsonOAS Principal

Environmental SectionRegulatory & Response

Section

Bruce MontgomeryAgric Unit Supervisor

H Gerald Floren Jr. Soil Scientist 2

Monitoring Unit

John Hines

William VanRyswyk

(Mankato)

Hydrologist 3

Heidi FischerAgric. Unit Supervisor

Jane BoerboomAgric. Consultant

Stan KaminskiAgric. Chemical Consultant

(Ag Chemicals)

Steve PoncinAgric. Consultant

(Ag Chemicals)

Deepa de AlwisAg Advisor

(Ag Chemicals)

Inspections &

Permitting Unit

John PeckhamAgric. Unit Supervisor

Gary Gramm Greg Cremers (St. Cloud)

Ed Kaiser

Greg HardingAgric. Consultant (Ag Chemicals)

Kent Runkel (Redwood Falls)

Scott Revier (Winger)

Kathy Behrends (Slayton)

Mark Magnusson

(Fergus Falls)

Mike Fick (Vergas)

Mike Benson (Rochester)

Robert Rialson (Garvin)

Jim Freilinger (Paynesville)

Lisa Berg (Milaca)

Agric. Advisor (Ag Chemicals)

Gregorio Mendez-Ortega

Agric. Specialist (Ag Chemicals)

Incident Response Unit

Cathleen Villas-HornsHydrologist Supervisor

Mike StarkeyPlanning Director State

(Agric Emergency Planning)

Robert W. AndersonAgric. Consultant

Patrick Kelly

Greg HansonAgric. Consultant

(Ag Chemicals)

Paul McNellyAgric. Advisor (Ag Chemicals)

Gary Elsner

James SeabergHydrologist 3

Licensing &

Certification Unit

Joe SpitzmuellerAgric. Unit Supervisor

Alice WallerAgric. Advisor (Ag Chemicals)

Susan SteenOAS Intermediate

Gregg Regimbal (LOA)Agric. Unit Supervisor

Carol DurdenState Prog. Admin. Int.

Juanita RodriguezOAS Senior

Administrative Support

Unit

Jenny HanceOffice Services Supervisor 1

Susan ScherbelOAS

Brenda HohnekeOS

ACRRA Program

Charles TylerManagement Analyst 1

(Data Practices)

Cashiering

Asset Management

Meat Inspection Section

Jackie Anderson (Part-Time)

OAS Intermediate

Michael Horken (Full-Time)

Produce Inspection Supervisor

Arthur Amberg

Robert H. Anderson

Janet Bahe

Angelita Budde

Larry Crandall

Patricia Crowell

Marcia Drexler

Elaine Hilden

John Hockett

Russell Jacob

Wanda Kangas

Molly Lang

Craig Lawrey

Yvonne Lent

Mirja Maninga

Joseph Markovic

Dwayne Monson

Gayle Monson

Craig Orum

Dena Oswald

Trisha Pickar

Daryl Pollock

Sheldon Rasmussen

Edmund Rucinski

Charlene Rutherford

Hazel Schleicher

Richard Schleicher

Phyliss Sletten

Leslie Toppari

Dave Wanner

Bonnie Winkka

Dianne Wylie

(Intermittent)

Agricultural Technician

Charles Steinke (Full-Time)

Perry Paschke (Full-Time)

Michael Bothum(Intermittent)

Plant Industry Inspector 2

(Seed Potato)

Darrell Anderson (Full-Time)

Seed Potato Specialist

James Horton (Part-Time)

Plant Industry Inspector 2

Potato Inspection

East Grand Forks Office

Park Rapids Office

John Mitterholzer

Ann Walters

Rick BrueckerFood Standards Compliance Officer

Dairy Inspection Section

Lori Schmidt OAS Principal

Operations Section

Pesticide Management

Unit

Enforcement Unit

Joe Zachmann Research Scientist 3

Paul Sand

Shannen BornsenInternational Trade Rep

Denton Bruening

Brian Williams (LeSueur)

Donald Sirucek (Staples)

Russell Derickson (Lamberton)

Luke Stuewe (Detroit Lakes)

Kevin Kuehner (Preston)

Ag Advisor (Ag Chemicals)

Zhishan WuResearch Sceintist 3

(Biological Control)

Deb GennowOAS Intermediate

Betsy Sawyer (Application)

Matt Tillotson(Application)

Mike Dolbow (Data Systems)

ITS4

Teresa ChirhartFood Inspection Supervisor (Meat)

LeEtta MarekResearch Scientist 2

Financial Analysis

Roxane SmithAuditor Principal

(Temporary , Intermittent)

Jennifer Stephes (Faribault )

Food Inspector Supervisor (Meat)

Michael RyndersEnvironmental Analyst 1

(Temporary Unclassified)

Quinn CheneyDirector of Policy

Development

Al WithersAg Marketing Spec Sr

Curtis ZimmermanPlanning Program

Supervisor

Ben Miller (Temporary Unclassified)

Project Supervisor

Chris McCabeWarehouse Examiner

Lowell Busman(Part Time)

(Temp Unclass)

Planner Senior State

Peter BraunOAS Intermediate

Mary EdwardsAccounting Officer Senior

Don Jackson (Intermittent)

Nate Goodell (Seasonal)

Plant Industry Inspector 1

(Invasive Species)

Geir FriisoeState Program Admin. Manager Senior

(Plant Protection option)

(Reports to Joe Martin)

Peter Dziuk (Lino Lakes)

David Simmons(Staples)

Lola Youngblom(Nicollet)

Stephanie ViskerPlant Health Specialist 2

Steven ShimekPlant Heallth Specialist 3

Invasive Species

Exclusion Unit

Teresa McDillAgric. Unit Supervisor

Kimberly Thielen

CremersPlant Health Specialist 3

Erich BorchardtResearch Analysis Specialist

(Geographic Info Systems)

Mark SchreiberAgric Unit Supervisor

Lorraine EnglundOAS Intermediate

Nursery Inspection &

Export Certification

William DrykeState Program Admin. Manager

(Plant Protection option)

Tina Seeland

Kathryn Kromroy

Robert KochResearch Scientist 2

Lu SchmidtkeOAS Principal

Plant Protection Division

Judy WickhamOffice Services Supervisor 1

Robbin LuckerOAS Senior

Chuck Dale Agric Unit Supervisor

Jeff Siira (Battle Lake)

Donald Opdahl

(Starbuck)

Duane Munter (Fosston)

Agricultural Advisor

(Agronomy)

Kevin Ballman (Faribault )

Agricultural Specialist

(Agronomy)Xia Moua

State Programs Administrator

Lee WoodState Prog Admin Tech

Spec (ISO Accredidation)

Part-time

Janice HugoOAS Intermediate

Carol LoganState Program Admin Inter.

Mary Horvath

Martha Steinhart

Management Analyst 2

Chemistry Section

Environmental

Analysis

Chemistry/

Toxicology

Biology Section

Craig Braymen Research Scientist 2

Microbiology

Analysis

Seed/Plant

Pathology

Harold Rufledt

Sarlyn ZieglerSeed Analyst Senior

Facilities Management

Douglas BuhlManagement Analyst 3

(Facilities Management)

Ted Radintz (Temporary Unclassified) Planner

Principal Community Specialist

Deborah Davis Hudak(Bemidji)

James JacobsPlant Health Specialist 1

Robert SipPlanner Principal State

Roger MackedanzAgric Unit Supervisor

Jennifer HayesState Prog Admin Int.

Data Management Unit

Stephen Malone Agricultural Consultant

(Agronomy)

Samantha FischerOAS

Kristin VigerFood Inspector 2 (Temp Unclass)

Margaret HartInformation Officer 3

David WeinandGrants Specialist Senior

Nila Hines

Christine WicksAg Advisor

Doug SpanierState Programs Administrator

Manager

Sally LiberkoOAS Senior

Matembo Kitoy (Shakopee)

Cody Gramm (Minnetonka)

Food Inspector 1

Tamara Gerdes (Mankato)

Keri Brever (Rochester)

Lou Cha (Rochester)

Food Inspector 1

Janet Nelson OAS Senior

Natasha NorthrupResearch Scientist 1

Blane WhitePlant Health Specialist 3

Robert Kangas(Intermittent)

Plant Industry Inspector 1

(Invasive Species)

Jerald Yourczek (Bowlus)

Brian Anderson

(Mankato)

Mary Engelhard (St. Paul)

Ardell Knudsvig

(Crookston)

Roy Mayeda (Wheaton)

Randal Renken (Eyota)

Richard Kvols (Madison)

Miranda Trebesch(Springfield)

(Seasonal)

Plant Health Specialist 1

Mark AbrahamsonResearch Scientist 2

(Pest Biological Control)

Plant Pest Survey

Lucia HuntAgric. Unit Supervisor

Gypsy Moth Unit

Alison BoutinResearch Analyst

Intermediate

(Geographic Info Systems)

Ralph GroschenBusiness Advisor

Terry VaringOAS Intermediate

Stephen Talley (Full-Time)

Abdel Boudlali (Full-Time)

Al Peterson (Full-Time)

Area Terminal Produce Inspector

Harley Olinske Jr. (Full-Time)

Produce Inspection Supervisor

Fruit & Vegetable

Inspection

Minneapolis Office

Julie Bisch

Brenda DaBruzziAccounting Officer

Nicole Neeser State Program Admin Mgr. Sr.

Elaine Santi(Northern Region)

Dairy Inspection Supervisor

Elvin Norling (Harris)

Mike Phillips

(Thief River Falls)

Art Holdvogt

(Eden Valley)

Vernal Olson (Hoffman)

Otto Trampe (Baxter)

John Gullickson (Alexandria)

Cliff Patrick (Alexandria)

Dairy Inspector 2

Commercial Feed Unit

Erin Norling – (Harris)

Roy Kollos – (St. Paul)

Wayne Ulrich (Blooming Prairire)

Joy Borchardt (Taylors Falls)

Jan JarmanTiffany Beard(Temp Unclass)

Agric Specialist (Agronomy)

Barb Schroeder(Brandon)

Richard Manthei(Sandborn )

Ag Advisor (Agronomy)

Doug LuedersAgric. Unit Supervisor

Dave SyversonAg Consultant (Agronomy )

Fang (Lisa) WuPlanner Senior State

(Temporary Unclassified)

Daniel Pasche(Part Time)

State Prog Admin (Plant Prot)

Eric ByreCheryl Schmitz

Plant Industry Inspector 1

(Seed Potato)

VacantLoan Officer Supervisor

IPM & Biological

Control

Sustainable &

Organic

Agriculture

Office Support

Dwight WilcoxPlanner Principal State

(Ag Environmental)Ag Development

& Environmental

Quality

Information

Analysis

Darla Riley

Twyla Hill (Temp Unclass)

Planner intermediate

Office Support

Mark DittrichPlanner Senior State

Peter ScheffertAgricultural Development & Financial Assistance Director

(Reports to Robin Kinney)

Ag Development &

Environmental

Quality

Ron StrussResearch Scientist 2

James GonsoskiITS 3 (GIS)

Allen SommerfeldInformation Officer 3

Cynthia Glaser-O’BrienOAS Intermediate

Heather Bartley(Zumbrota)

(Temp Unclassified)

State Programs Admin Int.

James Ostlie State Program Admin Sr

Animal Agriculture

(Temp Unclass)

Adam Birr (Rochester)

Research Scientist 3

Kevin Cavanaugh(Temp Unclass)

Plant Health Specialist 2

Renee BodineCentral Services

Administrative Specialist Sr.

Vacant

ITS2 (GIS)

Livestock Services

Ying Ji (part time)

Ag Marketing Spec Sr.

(Aquaculture)

Abdalla Ibrahim(Seasonal)

Plant Health Specialist 1

Becky BalkPlanner Senior State

(Ag Land Preservation)

Debra Andazola

Wendy TamMarcia Murphy

Bacteriologist 2

Heather JohnsonHydrologist Supervisor

John Sierk(Ag Chemicals)

Ag Consultant

Data Management Unit

Federal Funds

Administration

Marie Abedi-Tari (Peterson )

Grants Spec. Sr.

Alice Freeman

Theresa PaulsonOAS Senior

Jim RoettgerFood Standards Compliance Officer

Corrine McQuillan(Hutchinson)

Food Inspector 2

Audrey (Eileen) Schmidt (Hanska)

Food Inspector 1

Andrew Carter Planner

Part Time

(Temporary Unclassified)

Tiffany Pahs

Robert BadeKatie Brown

Renae Smith

Jill Herberg(Temporary Unclassified)

Plant Health Specialist 1

Karla HillstromITS 2 (GIS)Emily Jerve

Research Analyst

David Tollefson(Rochester)

Hydrologist 1

Nancy LarsonManagement Analyst 3

(Temp Unclassified)

Amanda BaeslerAg Marketing Specialist

Leah Moreland (Part Time)

State Program Admin Int. Heidi HagmanPlant Health Speialist

(Temp)

Karl Hakanson

Megan LennonPlanner Intermediate

(Temp)

Ellen EdwardsCentral Serv Admin Spec

(Temp)

Getachew Tsehaye(Faribault )

Food Inspector 1

Levi Muhl (Hastings)

Markus Bischof

Kevin Scanlon (Carlton)

Food Inspector 2

Philippa StelterOAS Int.

Raell Dybsand

Robin Lawrey

Gwendolyn Toppari(Intermittent)

Plant Industry Inspector 1 (Potato)

Dale Carter(Starbuck)

Ag Consultant (Feed)

Christina ConnellyState Program Admin. Sr.

(Temp Unclassified)

Sandy Dunn State Program Admin Sr.

(Dairy & Food)

Gregg RegimbalAg Program Supervisor

(Temp Unclass)

Collie Graddick (Agronomy)

Ag Consultant

Dairy and Food Inspection

Heidi Kassenborg

Data

Management

Dunn, Sandra

Freeman, Alice

Gennow, Deb

Horvath, Mary

Kollos, Linda

Moreland, Leah

Mutch, Breahnna

Paulson, Theresa

Steinhart, Martha

Dairy Program

Chirhart, Teresa

Meat Inspection Program

Supervisor

Denkinger, Jill

Grussing, Dave

Hoffman, Gary

Konkol, Carol

Neumann, Shawn

Nygard, Wayne

Scripture, Burt

Pittman, Greg

Milk Inspection Program

Supervisor

Hansen, Pat

Hauge, Dawn

Lawrence, Charles

Mellgren (Sexton),

Sarah

Mock, Dana

Nelson, Alan

Radde, Dayle

Ramacher, Lisa

Santi, Elaine

Milk Inspection Program

Supervisor

Gullickson, John

Holdvogt, Art

Norling, Elvin

Olson, Vernal

Patrick, Clifford

Phillips, Michael

Trampe, Otto

Stephes, Jennifer

Meat Inspection Program

Supervisor

Bischof, Markus

McQuillan, Corrine

Muhl, Levi

Scanlon, Kevin

Schanus, Stacie

Schmidt, Eileen

Tsehaye, Getachew Dr.

Food

Program

Bruecker, Rick

Girard, Lorna

Food Inspection Program Supervisor

Barfknecht, Wilson

Clancy, Stephen

Gramm, Cody

Gunderson, Bert

Kitoy, Matembo

Kunkel, Russell

Mathern, Jennifer

O’Neil, JoNell

Seipel, David

Simon, Katherine

Topie, James

Kelly, Jan

Kruger, Larry

Food Inspection Program

Supervisor

Brever, Keri

Cha, Lou

Cibert, Andrew

Gerdes, Tamara

Gibbs, Jason

Kavanagh, Richard

Ruley, Doris

Sabetti, John

Urban, Lowell

Loosbrock, Anthony

Feed Program

Bartley, Heather

Beard, Tiffany

Borchardt, Joy

Jarman, Jan

Kollos, Roy

Manthei, Rick

Norling, Erin

Rygwalski, Mike

Schroeder, Barb

Syverson, Dave

Ulrich, Wayne

Carter, Dale

Roettger, Jim

Stelter, Roger

Viger, Kristin

Walters, Ann

Mitterholzer, John

Owen, Chuck (Pltry

Grading)

Dittrich, Joe

Graner, Keith

Sik, Roger

Meat

Dairy and Food Inspection

Division

• Dairy farms,

processors,

transport vehicles

• Food processing,

grocery stores

• Meat processing

• Feed mills

Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006Spinach Outbreak, 9/2006

Peanut butter, 2/2007 Peanut butter, 2/2007 Peanut butter, 2/2007 Peanut butter, 2/2007

The story continues…

From Case Households: 11

Bags of Lettuce Recovered

E. coli O157:H7 isolation from

Lettuce: Difficulties

• Outbreak strain had never been

isolated from lettuce

• E. coli can become internalized in

lettuce tissue

• By the time an outbreak is detected, too

late to find any remaining lettuce

New Way to Test Lettuce

• Lettuce put in

broth and placed on

orbital shaker

• Gentle agitation

allowed breakdown

of lettuce to release

any microrganisms

Concentrating and Separating

E.coli O157:H7 from Lettuce

• Paramagnetic beads coated with

antibodies to E. coli O157:H7 placed in

broth to bind organism

• Once binding took place, the beads

separated by magnetic field

Culture and Molecular

Subtyping

• Beads cultured

• Standard Biochemical, serologic,

and molecular confirmation

• O157 isolated from 2 bags of salad

within 60 hours of receipt

Case and Lettuce PFGE

Patterns Case

Produce Traceback

• Single processing

plant (Soledad, CA)

• Production Date of

September 7, 2005

• Lettuce harvested

from any 1 of 7 fields

• Rapid detection of outbreak allowed for

collection of lettuce samples

• New methods to detect E. coli O157:H7

were successful in isolating organism

from lettuce

• Collaboration between Public Health

Laboratory and epidemiologists resulted in

rapid recognition of outbreak, implication

of lettuce as the vehicle

• Rapid epidemiologic response and novel

approach of Agriculture Laboratory enabled

isolation of outbreak strain of O157 from

lettuce for first time during a public health

investigation

Conclusion