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Get involved in PMA food safety!

Issues: Food Safety & Security

As part of its commitment to providing consumers at supermarkets and restaurants with safe, nutritious products, the fresh fruit and vegetable industry has devoted considerable attention to food safety and food security programs. PMA encourages its members to have thorough food safety programs.

PMA supports reasonable, science-based food safety solutions and supports consumer and foodservice worker education on safe food handling. PMA supports federally mandated, risk-based, commodity-specific regulation of fresh produce. Initial efforts on lettuce and leafy greens should build on recent steps already taken at the state level in California. PMA recognizes that the federal process needed to put such a regulatory framework in place may require a multi-stage approach. PMA believes that federal oversight by the Food and Drug Administration should be the final goal of this process. PMA also believes that FDA must be provided with the proper funding to conduct this critical mandate and urges Congress to make this a top priority.

On the consumer front, PMA is a proud supporter of the Partnership for Food Safety Education, particularly its brand-new Be Food Safe education campaign. PMA members can now use Be Food Safe materials free for one year, without licensing fees.

To help its members stay informed about U.S. federal food security activities, PMA works through a food industry coalition to monitor regulations and develops guidance documents that summarize food security rules. PMA also advises regulatory authorities on marketplace realities and influences regulations in the best interest of the public and the produce industry.

Food Safety

• March 2008 Cantaloupe/Salmonella Litchfield Outbreak Resource Page

Industry Food Safety Guidance Documents/Programs

• Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce Supply Chain (Lineamientos en Espanol)
• Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain (Lineamientos en Espanol)
• Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain

• California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Report on Program Audits, Actions
• California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Web site
• California Leafy Greens Food Safety Metrics

• Good Agricultural Practices
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Programs
• Fresh-cut Produce Re-Washing Recommendations for Consumers and Retail/Foodservice Operators - This article, which provides science-based consumer and retail/food service recommendations, was developed by expert panel which convened at U.C. Davis to address the often controversial issue of whether or not to wash fresh-cut/ready-to-eat produce at retail and foodservice establishments before these products are served to consumers.
• Canadian Produce Marketing Association Food Safety Program Comparison Report

U.S. Federal Guidance Documents/Initiatives and State Reports

• FDA Food Protection Plan
• Final FDA Fresh-cut Produce Food Safety Guidance
• Final FDA Report on E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Spinach
• Committee on Oversight and Reform Report - FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety: A Failure to Protect”
• FDA Tomato Safety Initiative
• FDA Lettuce Safety Initiative
• FDA Produce Safety Action Plan
• Final FDA Juice HACCP Hazards and Controls Guidance

• USDA Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program
• USDA Report: Outbreak Linked to Spinach Forces Reassessment of Food Safety Practices

• California Dept. of Health Services (CDHS) Recommendations Concerning E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Spinach
• CDHS Final Report of E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Spinach - Redacted

• CDHS Final Report of E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Spinach - Redacted with photos and figures removed

• ADDENDUM to CDHS Investigation

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Regulations for U.S. Leafy Greens

PMA Member Food Safety Briefings & Resources

• PMA Comments to USDA on Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement ANPR
• PMA Testifies at May 15 House Hearing on Produce Safety
• PMA Testifies at April 13 FDA Field Hearing on Produce Safety
• Microorganisms and Lab Testing on Produce
• Pathogens and Produce
• Preventing Microbial Contamination from Manure
• Produce Tracebacks
• Pesticide Residues and Produce
• PMA Issue Alerts

PMA Member Food Safety Products

• PMA Food Regulatory Inspections Manual
• PMA Recall Manual
• PMA Crisis Management Manual or en espanol Manual Para Manejo De Crisis
• PMA Advantage: Food Safety Alerts

Food Security

PMA Member Food Security Briefings & Resources

• PMA Guide to U.S. Bioterrorism Regulations – This guide is available to PMA members only. You will need to log in to view this document.
• Ley 2002 sobre preparación y respuesta a la seguridad de la salud y el bioterrorismo en los EE.UU. – Este recurso, disponible solo para miembros de PMA, detalla cómo cumplir con los varios componentes de el Ley 2002 sobre el bioterrorismo en los Estados Unidos.
• Issue Alerts – As new developments arise in food security regulations, PMA informs its members via issue alerts.

U.S. Federal Food Security Resources/Regulations

In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. For more information about the Act and its various components, use the links below:

• FDA CARVER+Shock Vulnerability Assessment Tool
• FDA Fact Sheet: Administrative Detention
• FDA Fact Sheet: Prior Notice
• FDA Fact Sheet: Record-keeping Rule
• FDA Fact Sheet: Registration of Food Facilities

• FDA Q&A: Prior Notice of Imported Foods
• FDA Q&A: Record-keeping Rules
• FDA Q&A: Registration of Food Facilities

• FDA Compliance Policy Guide for Prior Notice and Submit Prior Notice of Imported Foods
• FDA Compliance Policy Guide for Registration and Submit Registration of Food Facilities

Food Security Resources for Supply Chain Partners

• USDA Pre-Harvest Security Guidelines and Checklist 2006
• FDA Preventive Measures Guidance for Producers, Processors, and Transporters
• Guide for Security Practices in Transporting Agricultural and Food Commodities
• New! Guide To Developing A Food Defense Plan For Warehouse and Distribution Centers
• FDA Preventive Measures Guidance for Importers and Filers
• FDA Preventive Measures Guidance for Stores and Operators
• FDA Checklist for School Foodservice Programs