Food Safety

FDA seeks changes to FSMA to enhance safety of ag water used on produce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a proposed rule Dec. 2 that aims to enhance the safety of produce. It proposes to require farms to conduct comprehensive assessments that would help them identify and... more »

PMA’s Teplitski to chair USDA committee’s work on Cyclospora

The USDA recently announced membership changes to National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods that would focus on strengthening the nation’s food systems through improved production and processing. The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological... more »

Esteban picked as USDA food safety head

President Joe Biden announced Nov. 12 his intent to nominate Jose Emilio Esteban for Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA. According to a news release, Esteban is currently the chief scientist for the... more »

USA/Canada Labeling Guide, Second Edition, released

United Fresh Produce Association and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) have announced the release of the Second Edition of the USA/Canada Labeling Guide to support industry understanding of the differences and similarities for labeling... more »

Washington tree fruit group’s 2021 Apple Pesticide Residue Study Report set

Since 2011, the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission has conducted studies in apple and cherry to generate residue data for commonly used pesticides to help Washington growers make more informed choices about their spray programs.... more »

MDARD’s Vought new chair of National Conference for Food Protection

Rebecca Vought, food safety specialist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Food and Dairy Division’s Local Health Services and Emergency Response Unit, was recently elected chair of the Conference for Food... more »

Michigan agritourism surveyed about disease prevention practices

Michigan State University Extension is developing resources to help Michigan’s agritourism industry better protect itself and its guests from zoonotic diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), zoonotic diseases are diseases caused... more »

Keeping organic fruit fresh, safe from rot, foodborne pathogens studied

Increasingly popular with consumers, Washington-grown organic apples and pears thrive in the region’s dry, disease-discouraging climate. Off the tree, however, organic fruits are at the mercy of physiological disorders and fungi that can rot and... more »