Bix Produce Responds to Taco John's Developments.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Randy Wilcox, chief executive officer of Bix Produce, issued the following statement in response to today's developments involving the Taco John's E. coli investigation:

Statement of Randy Wilcox
Chief Executive Officer
Bix Produce

"We are disappointed, of course, that Taco John's has chosen to suspend its relationship with us after more than a decade of safe and beneficial partnership, particularly as there is still no determination as to the cause of the E. coli that has affected more than 50 consumers in Iowa and Minnesota. Regardless of their decision in this matter, however, we will continue to assist them in any way possible.

"The safety of those who consume our produce is our highest priority and has been since our founding in 1934. We take all issues relating to food-borne illness very seriously and will continue to work with health officials and investigators in researching possible source of the contamination. To that end, we have provided the Minnesota Department of Agriculture information regarding the suppliers and growing regions for our lettuce and cilantro, background on our operations and procedures and specific information regarding the production of more than 12,000 cases of shredded lettuce produced between November 11th and December 2nd. About 30 percent of that production was delivered to Taco John's.

"In addition, we met with Department of Agriculture officials yesterday and participated in a visual inspection of our facilities which resulted in no findings of concern. We will continue to provide investigators with all available assistance in this matter.

"Bix Produce Company has a strong food safety record and has never been found to be the source of product contamination. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our products and procedures to exceed industry standards. We have a strong food safety program in place throughout our operations, including our warehouse, processing facility and distribution system. Our on-going food safety precautions include:

* An industry-leading HACCP program

* Sanitary practice monitoring system

* Equipment disinfection program

* Employee training and ongoing education programs

* Microbiological testing of raw in process and finished products

* Adherence to GAPs (good agricultural practices)

* GMP training (good manufacturing practices)

* Recall Program

"To make a safe program even safer, we have begun a series of refresher meetings with all production and distribution employees to remind them of all good manufacturing practices currently in place. We also recently instituted an industry-leading program to require our suppliers to provide proof of effective good agricultural practices and the results of a third-party audit regarding those practices.

We also will take any additional measures necessary to preserve our customers' confidence in the safety and wholesomeness of the produce they offer to consumers."