Produce

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The causes of produce-related outbreaks, including field-level contamination or contaminated inputs such as water, do not discriminate between small or large producers.

FDA’s goal is to develop preventive controls and specific actions that can be followed all the way down to the farm level and throughout the supply chain.

Rapid globalization has added to the complexity of the food supply chain, making issues like food safety, quality and logistics even more complicated than before.  

If the food safety standards and audit checklists are harmonized across the different audit groups, that should make it easier for customers to compare, and accept, audit results.  

Scientific research and risk analysis can be lengthy processes, and situations may arise, such as outbreaks, in which interim measures may need to be adopted quickly.

The Produce Traceability Initiative action plan outlines seven key elements and milestones for implementing the whole-chain traceability process.

Traceability is the key to executing a proactive retrieval of lots implicated in a suspected or identified pathogen-detection event.

With the implementation of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, huge strides have been made in the area of food safety.

Experts agree that pathogen contamination of produce growing in fields may be reduced by applying Good Agricultural Practices.

Refrigerated, perishable products offer a unique level of complexity since there is no singular technology to assure product safety for the broad spectrum of products that exist.