Food Safety

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 »

FDA: Majority of food samples tested below pesticide tolerances

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued its annual Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report for the 2019 fiscal year. The results show the levels do not pose a concern for public health. According to the... more »

‘Unsafe’ cider produced in an uninspected, unlicensed Michigan facility

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is advising consumers not to drink cider produced by Bowens Mills in Middleville, Michigan, due to food safety concerns. Bowens Mills was found operating an unlicensed cider... more »

NIFA invests $10M for food safety outreach, training and education

The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced Sept 29 an investment of $10 million for 21 grants to develop and implement food safety and Food Safety Modernization Act-related training, education, extension outreach and technical... more »

Project looks at impact of waxes on food safety

Food-grade waxes are applied to a number of produce items before storage and distribution to control postharvest decay and extend shelf life. While commodities such as apples and oranges receive a single waxing, lemons receive... more »