Latest News From Food safety

FDA pilot program tests third-party audit alignment with FSMA
FDA pilot program tests third-party audit alignment with FSMA

The Food and Drug Administration is launching a voluntary pilot program to evaluate whether services by third-party food safety auditors align with Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.

Web seminars focus on produce traceability

The United Fresh Produce Association is hosting web seminars on traceability following the Food and Drug Administration releasing its plan on the topic for the industry.

Packer 25 2020 — Frank Yiannas

Frank Yiannas brings passion and results to the topic of food safety.

Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource
Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource

Trevor Suslow, who joined the Produce Marketing Association in mid-2018 as vice president of produce safety, is stepping down from full-time duties at the association.

PSSI names Emily Weaver chief financial officer

Contract sanitation provider PSSI, Kieler, Wis., has hired Emily Weaver as chief financial officer.

Jennifer McEntire receives NSF’s Food Safety Leadership Award

NSF International has named Jennifer McEntire as the Food Safety Leadership Award recipient.

Pace International presents annual Postharvest Academy

Pace International is presenting its Postharvest Academy through a series of web seminars on a range of topics affecting apple, citrus, cherries and pears.

FDA continues investigation into salmonella linked to peaches
FDA continues investigation into salmonella linked to peaches

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the outbreak of salmonella linked to peaches from Prima Wawona/Wawona Packing Co., but the Food and Drug Administration is continuing its investigation.

100 days in, FDA recaps ‘New Era’ of food safety moves
100 days in, FDA recaps ‘New Era’ of food safety moves

The Food and Drug Administration is discussing New Era of Smarter Food Safety developments in a web seminar as the program hits the 100-day mark.

California LGMA launches information website on leafy greens

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement has launched a website, lettuceinfo.org, as the ultimate resource on “everything you need to know about lettuce and leafy greens.”

FDA: Red onion salmonella outbreak over; investigation isn’t
FDA: Red onion salmonella outbreak over; investigation isn’t

The Food and Drug Administration has declared the Salmonella Newport outbreak that was likely caused by red onions from Thomson International Inc. is over.

Center for Produce Safety funds 14 projects at $3.3 million
Center for Produce Safety funds 14 projects at $3.3 million

The Center for Produce Safety has chosen 14 more projects to fund, from research on the survival of viruses in surface water to the role of dust in transferring foodborne pathogens.

United Fresh accepting applications for Produce Safety Immersion Program

The United Fresh Produce Association is accepting applications for class two of its Produce Safety Immersion Program. 

PMA names honorees receiving awards at Fresh Summit

The Produce Marketing Association and Center for Growing Talent have announced the recipients of four annual awards honoring industry members during virtual Fresh Summit events..

Packer Insight — Romaine, H-2A and Produce Retailer of the Year
Packer Insight — Romaine, H-2A and Produce Retailer of the Year

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, news editor Chris Koger and retail editor Ashley Nickle bring you the news of the week, from romaine rules to H-2A confusion to news about two Produce Retailer of the Year winners.

Canadian romaine requirement could be a costly precedent

New Canadian food safety import requirements for U.S. romaine lettuce could cost the Canadian industry between $11 million and $13 million per week.

Costly and complicated rules just beginning for romaine

With added food safety compliance costs of perhaps $1 to $2 per carton, the complications are just beginning for California Salinas Valley romaine shippers and Canadian importers.

SmartWash recognizes safety efforts through Circle of Excellence
SmartWash recognizes safety efforts through Circle of Excellence

SmartWash Solutions, Salinas, Calif., is highlighting top-performing U.S. produce processors for 2021’s National Food Safety Month in September.

Root cause web seminar offered by United Fresh

A United Fresh Produce Association web seminar on root cause analysis will feature food safety experts from three industry trade associations.

Fruit sorter designed with food safety, traceability in mind
Fruit sorter designed with food safety, traceability in mind

Compac, a Tomra Food company, has introduced a new sorting platform designed for the future, with a focus on food safety, sanitation and traceability feature.

Yiannas explores lessons learned from COVID-19
Yiannas explores lessons learned from COVID-19

Frank Yiannas said the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the necessity of public-private partnerships and confirmed the value of creating more digital-based record-keeping for the food system.

Traceability pilots to reveal insights

Leafy-greens-focused traceability pilots being conducted by industry operators now will help reveal insights about industry gaps in traceability.

Meijer recalls fresh-cut, whole cantaloupe after salmonella test
Meijer recalls fresh-cut, whole cantaloupe after salmonella test

Meijer is recalling whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe products after a sampling program in Michigan detected salmonella.

CPMA: better communication needed between FDA and CFIA

The imposition of new import requirements on U.S. romaine lettuce by the CFIA could have been avoided with better communication between U.S. and Canadian food safety officials, according to Ron Lemaire.

Participants in the United Fresh Produce Association’s first Produce Safety Immersion Program have met for educational web seminars on food safety topics this year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of trips planned in conjunction with major United Fresh events
First class of United Fresh Produce Safety Immersion Program to carry over to 2021

Participants in the United Fresh Produce Association’s first Produce Safety Immersion Program will have a

Course focuses on harmonized GAPs auditing 

The United Fresh Produce Association is offering a web seminar on auditor training for good agricultural practices.

U.S., Mexico, sign agreement on enhanced food safety partnership

The Food and Drug Administration and its counterparts in Mexico are taking steps to strengthen collaboration on food safety, from outbreak investigations to training and outbreak prevention measures.

COVID-19 hastens investments in training, technology
COVID-19 hastens investments in training, technology

For produce operators, the cost of doing business took on a whole new context after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Country Fresh expands fresh-cut fruit recall at Walmart stores
Country Fresh expands fresh-cut fruit recall at Walmart stores

Country Fresh has extended a fresh-cut watermelon recall to include items with grapes and fresh-cut apples, mangoes, pineapples and cantaloupe that were distributed to Walmart stores in nine states.

CFIA working with produce operators on new regulation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is working with produce operators to help them understand new temporary measures for U.S. romaine lettuce.

Fresh-cut produce, such these products on display at Star Market in Boston, is subject to new traceability measures in a rule proposal by the FDA.
FDA schedules three virtual meetings on traceability rule

The Food and Drug Administration is scheduling three day-long virtual meetings on its proposed rule to increase traceability requirements on fresh produce and other foods.

Canada closes investigation into salmonella from red onions
Canada closes investigation into salmonella from red onions

The Public Health Agency of Canada has closed its investigation into a Salmonella Newport outbreak that was traced to red onions from Thomson International Inc., Bakersfield, Calif.

Canada to start new rules on U.S. romaine imports Oct. 7

Effective Oct. 7, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will require that romaine lettuce from California’s Salinas Valley be tested for E. coli.

Country Fresh recalls fresh-cut watermelon for listeria concerns
Country Fresh recalls fresh-cut watermelon for listeria concerns

Country Fresh is recalling fresh-cut watermelon for possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination.

United Fresh offers traceability seminars

The United Fresh Produce Association is offering two traceability web seminars.

California LGMA stresses standards for treating water
California LGMA stresses standards for treating water

As Canada prepared tighter import rules for California leafy greens, the food safety standards group that oversees those crops emphasized steps it’s taken to protect the crops.

Surprise Canadian plan on romaine import requirements raises alarm
Surprise Canadian plan on romaine import requirements raises alarm

Proposed regulations that would impose testing requirements on Canadian imports of romaine lettuce from California’s Salinas Valley are raising concerns for growers, buyers and industry associations.

Web seminar explores new RPC cleaning, sanitation process

IFCO and Ecolab have created a validated regimen for cleaning and sanitizing reusable plastic containers to prevent cross contamination.

Web seminars focus on FSMA’s traceability rule

Several web seminars focus on traceability in the wake of the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed traceability rules.

CDC: summer’s Cyclospora outbreak from salad over
CDC: summer’s Cyclospora outbreak from salad over

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the summer’s outbreak of Cyclospora linked to Fresh Express salads, but the Food and Drug Administration’s investigation still continues

FDA proposes heightened traceability rules for certain produce

(UPDATED) The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new traceability rules that seek elevated record-keeping for many fresh produce items, from all fresh-cut products to leafy greens and tomatoes.

CEA food safety group adds members, prepares metrics

The CEA Food Safety Coalition, which represents controlled-environment agriculture operations that include greenhouses and indoor vertical farms, has added members and is 

PMA chooses Food Fight GA for Impact Award
PMA chooses Food Fight GA for Impact Award

Food Fight GA, established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help Atlanta-area restaurant workers and farmers who supply the restaurants, is being recognized with a Produce Marketing Association Impact Award.

Canadian microgreens recalled for salmonella
Canadian microgreens recalled for salmonella

Ontario health officials are investigating an outbreak of salmonella associated with microgreens from Sunsprout Natural Foods.

Ball’s Food offers training for food safety
Ball’s Food offers training for food safety

One hundred employees of Ball’s Food Stores, Kansas City, Kan., have been certified by the American National Standards Institute and the Conference for Food Protection.

“Food traceability list” is high-risk foods by another name
“Food traceability list” is high-risk foods by another name

The Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule is called “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.”

FDA proposes heightened traceability rules for certain produce

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new traceability rules that seek elevated record-keeping for many fresh produce items, from all fresh-cut products to leafy greens and tomatoes.

Sprout Safety Alliance training program set
Sprout Safety Alliance training program set

The Sprout Safety Alliance has scheduled its next training course for growers.

Food protection association’s annual meeting goes digital
Food protection association’s annual meeting goes digital

The International Association for Food Protection’s annual meeting will be a virtual event this year.

California LGMA survey looks at members’ traceability plans
California LGMA survey looks at members’ traceability plans

Members of the California LGMA, who grow an overwhelming majority of the lettuce and other leafy greens in the state, and 80% of the U.S. lettuce, say they’re capable of quickly tracking recalled products.