FDA helps play it safe with produce

March 14, 2007
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a guide advising processors of fresh-cut produce how to minimize microbial food safety hazards common in processing most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a guide advising processors of fresh-cut produce how to minimize microbial food safety hazards common in processing most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

Entitled Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables, this document suggests that fresh-cut processors consider a food safety program such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. This system is designed to prevent, eliminate, or reduce microbial, chemical, and physical hazards associated with food production.

This guidance recommends that processors encourage adoption of safe practices by others in the supply chain. These include produce growers, packers, distributors, transporters, importers, exporters, retailers, foodservice operators, and consumers. The practices include:

--Establishing a company policy that employees report any active case of illness to supervisors before beginning work and training.

--Training supervisors to recognize typical signs/symptoms of infectious disease; maintain the proper first aid to protect and cover any wound; and not allow an employee to work with any aspect of fresh or fresh-cut produce, processing equipment, or tools until the wound has healed and/or the infectious disease has been treated.

More information on safe handling practices of produce can be found at www.fightbac.org.

Sponsored Recommendations

Way Beyond Weight: 5 Ways Truck Weights Affect Fleet Operations

Truck weights affect everything from highway safety and operational costs to back-office efficiency. Here’s how.

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!