A new research report from the food industry shows investigations of leafy greens foodborne illness outbreaks could be streamlined if produce was labeled with traceable codes, something food safety experts have been urging for decades.
For four months food industry researchers reviewed supply chain partners including growers, distributors and both
Continue Reading Industry researchers say traceability comes down to label codes
Major players like the Produce Marketing Association, the United Fresh Produce Association, and Western Growers went on record in support of new organic regulations just before an official comment period ended on Oct. 5. Advancing to the final rule writing phase also appears to have the support of the
Continue Reading USDA collects comments on organic changes, moving on to final rule
“Guarded optimism.” That’s the way Elston Grubaugh, general manager of the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District in the eastern Yuma, AZ, growing area describes his thoughts about the current romaine lettuce season.
In 2018, an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma area
Continue Reading Yuma romaine growers hopeful harvest will end without E. coli issues
Hundreds sicken and hospitalized, dozens with kidney failure and 7 deaths from romaine in the last 12 months in the U.S. and Canada and the response from industry and government has been what? Please put labels on the product so we know when the next outbreak happens that we might
Continue Reading Publisher’s Platform: Revive the MDP
Eight weeks after the first person became sick, government inspectors still haven’t been able to pinpoint who grew and distributed pre-chopped romaine lettuce associated with a deadly and ongoing E. coli outbreak.
Some in the fresh produce industry are blaming the Food and Drug Administration for the delay, saying the
Continue Reading Produce group says FDA won’t let it help with E. coli search
A new food safety group for controlled-environmental agriculture will sprout in June in Chicago, according to leading CEA growers. “The intent is to establish food safety standards,” says a spokesman.
Brightfarms, AeroFarms and Little Leaf Farms are the controlled-environmental growers getting behind the new food safety group. The first meeting
Continue Reading Growers form controlled-environment agriculture safety group
The notion that “the food police are coming” motivated attendees at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Conference earlier this month to attend a session featuring Jeffrey Steger, assistant director in the Consumer Protection Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, and prominent attorney Doug Fellman, a partner, at Hogan
Continue Reading The food police are coming — liability and DOJ enforcement
The extension and clarification of compliance dates released Aug. 23 by FDA, combined with the draft guidance documents released Aug. 23-24, enable the fresh produce industry to better understand how to comply with the applicable rules. We appreciate that FDA heard and responded to our concerns and requests. 
FDA recognizes
Continue Reading Produce group applauds extension of food safety deadlines
Four initiatives by the private sector to improve food safety are called out for recognition in the 5th Annual Reportable Food Registry Report, which has been submitted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They include:
Continue Reading FDA salutes four industry food safety initiatives in reportable food registry
Time was that food and medicine were two different things. Food was for eating and medicine was for curing diseases. It was as simple as that. Take a look at the recently released 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and you’ll see that things have changed. 
Food is now viewed as
Continue Reading New dietary guidelines show potential conflict between safe and healthy
