Food Safety

Small farms routine inspections start provided flexibility by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing flexibility for when states may begin conducting routine inspections of small farms, other than sprouts operations, under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Routine inspections... more »

Illness update in outbreak tied to romaine lettuce from Salinas

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have updated the number of illnesses involved in the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with romaine lettuce grown in Salinas, California. All new... more »

Some growers ‘wait and see’ with Produce Rule

Startup and ongoing costs associated with the Produce Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) remain hard to swallow for some specialty crops’ growers, but there’s little recourse in a market that requires the... more »

Marking 10 years in operation, SmartWash Solutions helps keep food safe

In its 10th year of serving the fresh-cut produce industry, Salinas, California-based SmartWash Solutions supports operations and food safety in eight countries, while effectively treating over five billion pounds of produce each year. This represents... more »

E. coli outbreak linked to Salinas, California romaine

FDA, CDC, and state health authorities are investigating an outbreak of illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 in the United States. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence indicates that romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region is... more »

Salad products recalled due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination

Missa Bay, LLC, a Swedesboro, New Jersey, establishment, is recalling approximately 75,233 pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s... more »

Revisions to Produce GAPs Harmonized Standard open to comments

United Fresh has opened the public comment period to the just-posted redline version of the Produce GAPs Harmonized Standard, detailing the proposed revisions that were reviewed by the Technical Working Group at their September meeting.... more »

Food scientist from University of Massachusetts tracks foodborne disease

University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientist Matthew Moore has received two grants from the USDA to apply new technology in an effort to more quickly detect and trace foodborne disease caused by noroviruses and bacteria.... more »