Food Safety
FDA provides flexibility for start of routine inspections on small farms
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing flexibility for when states may begin conducting routine inspections of small farms, other than sprouts operations, under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Routine inspections... more »
SmartWash Solutions celebrates 10 years in business
In its 10th year of serving the fresh-cut produce industry, Salinas, California-based SmartWash Solutions supports operations and food safety in eight countries, while effectively treating over five billion pounds of produce each year. This represents... more »
Hepatitis A potentially linked to blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, announced Nov. 20 an investigation into multi-state outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses in Indiana,... more »
Comments sought on Produce GAPs Harmonized Standard
United Fresh has opened the public comment period to the just-posted redline version of the Produce GAPs Harmonized Standard, detailing the proposed revisions that were reviewed by the Technical Working Group at their September meeting.... more »
UMass food scientist making strides in foodborne disease testing
University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientist Matthew Moore has received two grants from the USDA to apply new technology in an effort to more quickly detect and trace foodborne disease caused by noroviruses and bacteria.... more »
California reports low or no pesticide levels in most fruits, vegetables
Once again, tests showed that the vast majority of fresh produce collected by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) met national pesticide residue standards. During its 2018 survey, DPR found 95 percent of all samples... more »
North Bay Produce voluntarily recalls fresh apples due to health risk
North Bay Produce of Traverse City, Michigan is voluntarily recalling 2,297 cases and two bulk bins of fresh apples due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which... more »
Produce growers list top concerns about food safety compliance
Although local food producers are broadly committed to food safety on their operations, there are still some barriers to implementing food safety best practices, according to a Needs Assessment Report released Oct. 22 by National Farmers Union... more »
