The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbial Risk Assessment (JEMRA) report on commodity specific prevention and control measures for microbial hazards in fresh fruits and vegetables.
The report evaluates interventions against various target pathogens (including bacteria, parasites, and viruses) from primary production to post-harvest activities, transportation, point-of-sale, and preparation for consumption. Intervention stage and intervention type (physical, chemical, or biological) were also considered. Specifically, the report focuses on control measures for four commodity groups: leafy vegetables and herbs, berries and tropical fruits, melons and tree fruits, and seeded and root vegetables.