“Due to the high levels of E-coli bacteria found in the majority of chinese cabbage tested in October and December, 2014 and August 2015, the ban on selling locally grown Chinese cabbage (or bok choy) is still in effect,” says Acting Director of the Department of Agriculture, Peter Gurr.

The acting director was responding to Samoa News queries after he was questioned by Senator Atualevao Sosene Asofia during the Agriculture department budget hearing on Wednesday afternoon. The senator asked Gurr if they were still banning the Chinese cabbage — yet did not allow Gurr to reply.

After the hearing Gurr told Samoa News that in August 2015 their office confiscated close to 300 pounds of Chinese cabbage from the stores. According to Gurr, their office did testing on the cabbages and a high level of e-coli bacteria from human or animal waste was found was on some of the vegetables, which caused them grave concerns.

He said, “This is trash that is being sold to our people, trash. Do we eat trash?”

Gurr also pointed out that the ban which started from last year is also in effect for locally grown spinach and cilantro, which also indicated high levels of e-coli bacteria. He told Samoa News that the Department of Agriculture is working together with the ASCC land grant and the farmers to resolve these issues.

“Until it is determined that it’s safe for consumption, any locally grown Chinese cabbage, spinach and cilantro found in markets, roadside stands, and restaurants will be confiscated and destroyed. He made it clear that failure to abide by this policy may result in the closure of the facility by the Department of Health.

Gurr told Samoa News that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this ban will go on for at least another year given that the e-coli bacteria is already in the ground in which the vegetables are being grown and it will take up to three years before it’s clear.

The ban on the sale of locally grown cabbage started last year October 2014 after worms were found in cabbage served at Aua Elementary School. A month later, Agriculture Director Lealao M. Purcell extended the ban to the entire territory, after the department found a lot of worms in cabbage inspected by the agency, which is currently still trying to identify why the worms are being found in so much of our locally grown cabbage.