1. Food Safety and Produce AEC 317 November 9, 2012

2. Focus of the Presentation Drivers behind food safety and produce Drivers behind food safety and produce The Kentucky produce industry The Kentucky produce industry Food safety and Kentucky produce Food safety and Kentucky produce Marketing food safety Marketing food safety

5. The big picture Between 6 and 33 million people affected by foodborne illness each year (all foods) Between 6 and 33 million people affected by foodborne illness each year (all foods) Post Sept 11 expanded to include biosecurity Post Sept 11 expanded to include biosecurity Deaths as high as 8,000 in a single year Deaths as high as 8,000 in a single year Main food safety challenges in produce Main food safety challenges in produce Pathogens (bacteria, etc.) Chemical residues Foreign matter (glass, staples, etc.) Pathogens by far the largest source of risk

6. The big picture Produce quality assurance regulated by the Food & Drug Administration Produce quality assurance regulated by the Food & Drug AdministrationFood & Drug AdministrationFood & Drug Administration 639 outbreaks and over 31,000 reported illnesses connected with produce 639 outbreaks and over 31,000 reported illnesses connected with produce Class I recall—The product poses a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. Example: E. coli in spinach. Class I recall—The product poses a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death. Example: E. coli in spinach. Class II recall—The product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. Example: undeclared milk allergens in soup. Class II recall—The product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. Example: undeclared milk allergens in soup. Class III recall—The product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences. Example: Soda labeled “caffeine-free” is found to contain caffeine. Class III recall—The product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences. Example: Soda labeled “caffeine-free” is found to contain caffeine.

8. System wide supply chain priorities Percent of participants rating issue as a high priority IssueRetailerGrower/shipper Food safety Quality specifications Cold chain maintenance HACCP standards Inventory turns Vendor partnerships Product traceability Decreased order time E-commerce VMI Flow through/cross dock 100.0 97.5 95.0 90.0 87.5 60.0 52.5 42.5 45.0 90.9 95.5 77.2 81.8 70.0 91.0 95.5 61.9 86.4 60.0 Source: Perisio, et al., 2001

9. Current Industry Best Management Practices Preserving the cold chain Preserving the cold chain Worker sanitation (clean, healthy workers) Worker sanitation (clean, healthy workers) Facility sanitation Facility sanitation Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) Implemented in most fresh cut and packing/shipping operations Implemented in most fresh cut and packing/shipping operations Lower inventories and accelerated time to market Lower inventories and accelerated time to market

10. Certification Many industry safety guidelines are voluntary Many industry safety guidelines are voluntary Third party certification Third party certification Hinton Strawberry Farms Hinton Strawberry FarmsHinton Strawberry FarmsHinton Strawberry Farms Primus Labs Primus LabsPrimus LabsPrimus Labs American Food Safety Institute American Food Safety Institute Signals of quality assurance increasing in importance to most retail and foodservice customers Signals of quality assurance increasing in importance to most retail and foodservice customers

12. Certification Global Good Ag Practices Global Good Ag Practices California Leafy Greens – toward a mandated order? California Leafy Greens – toward a mandated order?

13. Food Safety Rating By Kentucky Producers Source: Woods, 2003

14. Farmers Perceptions of the safety of produce in U.S. markets

15. Where do most food safety problem occur? Farmers vs Consumers

16. High risk Risk of Pesticide Related Death S R Q P O N M L

17. An interesting fact… There is no evidence that anybody has ever died from pesticide residues on food from lawful application of pesticides There is no evidence that anybody has ever died from pesticide residues on food from lawful application of pesticides

18. More than 10% of my neighbors… Use “off-label pesticides Use “off-label pesticides Conventional 13% Organic 33% Inadequately clean their sprayers Inadequately clean their sprayers Conventional 28% Organic 58% Apply dosages exceeding label recommendations Apply dosages exceeding label recommendations Conventional 15% Organic 45%

19. More than 10% of my neighbors…. Apply pesticides too closely to the harvest date Apply pesticides too closely to the harvest date Conventional 8% Organic 39% Operate livestock activity within 100 yards of produce activity Operate livestock activity within 100 yards of produce activity Conventional 29% Organic 42%

20. Marketing Food Safety Growth in organics Growth in organics –Major retailers –Natural foods stores –USDA Eco-labeling Eco-labeling –Ecolabeling Standards Ecolabeling StandardsEcolabeling Standards Traceback systems – Radio frequency id tags – Dole, WalMart Traceback systems – Radio frequency id tags – Dole, WalMart Growth in direct marketing and association of ‘local’ with ‘safe’? Growth in direct marketing and association of ‘local’ with ‘safe’?

21. Marketing “Green” Packaging Recyclable containers

22. Marketing “Green” Packaging Recyclable containers