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The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) has announced six new research projects totaling $1.8 million to address critical food safety challenges in the fresh produce industry.

An ongoing Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating the factors contributing to the persistence of a reoccurring, emerging, and persisting (REP) Escherichia coli O157:H7 subtype associated with leafy greens foodborne illness outbreaks, with the goal of developing a risk assessment tool for growers.

A 2024 European foodborne illness outbreak caused by a rare Salmonella serotype, linked to leafy greens grown near a buffalo farm, exposed gaps in biosecurity, surveillance, and data transparency across the agri-food system.

Due to the small, tender quality of berries, individual quick freezing (IQF) and isochoric freezing are ideal options that have been explored to improve preservation. Progress in isochoric freezing technology can revolutionize the methods that are used to handle and store berries.

Cyclosporiasis is considered an "important neglected parasitic infection" by CDC. It is also a nationally notifiable disease. Cyclospora is an emergent foodborne pathogen that is frequently overlooked in risk assessments for food safety assurance—an oversight that might not be justifiable.

The resources for industry include updated FAQs and information about how FDA plans to implement the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

Developed by an industry consortium led by Western Growers and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Roadmap to Sustainable Fresh Produce Packaging offers pragmatic recommendations for transforming packaging practices, based in the holistic concept of “Functional Sustainability.”

Research from the University of Plymouth has demonstrated the ability of nanoplastics to infiltrate the edible radish root, which raises questions about the food safety and public health implications of dietary exposure to plastics. 

A CDC analysis of multistate foodborne illness outbreak investigation data for 2023 reveals the foods and pathogens that caused the greatest number of outbreaks and illnesses. A single salmonellosis outbreak linked to cantaloupe accounted for 407 illnesses.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has proposed to suspend registered approvals for dimethoate products on berries after new dietary exposure estimates suggested a potential human health risk.