The Bacchus Marsh company at the centre of a recent salmonella outbreak has suspended some farming and processing operations while investigations into its cause continue.
The number of suspected cases of the Salmonella anatum strain had climbed to more than 100 nationwide by last weekend.
Moorabool mayor Allan Comrie commended Tripod Farmers for “being on the front foot of its recall and working closely with health authorities”.
“The thing that’s annoying to me, as the news comes out, is no-one has mentioned [that] the company itself reported there was a problem,” Cr Comrie said.
“They’ve involved themselves in the investigation and said ‘we’ve got a problem’.
“They’re trying to do everything they can to minimise the problem.”
An urgent recall was issued last Thursday for Coles Four Leaf Mix, Woolworths salad mix, SupaSalad Supamix, and Wash N Toss salad mix, with consumption dates up to and including February 14.
More than 100 people have been reportedly affected by the bacteria.
In a statement, Tripod Farmers owner Mark Ruffo apologised to consumers affected by the recall.
“We are continuing to work closely with health authorities to determine the cause and extent of the problem, and with our customers to manage an effective recall,” Mr Ruffo said.
Tripod Farmers website says the company was started as a small family-run business in 1989 by third generation farmers.
Starting with 15 acres at Bacchus Marsh and employing just five people, the company supplied a range of lettuces to Melbourne markets.
Tripod Farmers is now considered Australia’s leading salad company.
It farms more than 2000 acres across western Melbourne, Gippsland and Sunraysia regions, and supplies fresh produce to large, independent supermarkets across Australia, domestic wholesale markets in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, and to international export customers.
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has issued a recall notice for 20 Tripod Farmers products.
Mr Ruffo reassured the public the company’s other products were safe to eat, and said the farm had been thoroughly cleaned.
The health department has not ruled out that fertiliser may be the source of the bacteria, causing its outbreak.
The department’s senior medical advisor, Finn Romanes, called the outbreak of “moderate size, but quite significant”, and urged people not to consume the recalled products.
Dr Romanes said tests of three products from two batches of pre-packaged lettuce distributed by Tripod Farmers had tested positive for the uncommon salmonella bacteria.
Further test results are expected to be known this week.
