Luke F. LaBorde Associate Professor of Food Science Penn State University October 6, 2011 Food Safety Certification for Ag Producers

foodsafety.psu.edu/gaps

In the news……….. Outbreaks and Recalls 2006 – E. coli O157:H7 Shredded lettuce Taco Bell * / Taco John** PA, DE, SC NJ - 71 cases MN, IA – 87 cases 2008 – Salmonella Cantaloupes – Honduras 51 infections in 16 states 2003 – Hepatitis A Green onions Chi Chi’s restaurants TN, GA, NC, PA 4 deaths 2004 – Salmonella Sliced tomatoes Sheet’s stores > 500 cases PA, OH, MD, WV, VA 2006 – E. coli 0157:H7 California spinach 26 states incl. PA > 200 cases, 4 deaths 2008 – Salmonella Hot peppers – Mexico 43 states incl. PA 1438 cases ?

2011 – E. coli 0157:H7 Northwest Oregon 15 people ill, 1 death Resold to roadside stands, farm markets 2011 – Listeria monocytogenes Colorado “Rocky Ford” cantaloupes 100 ill, 18 deaths in 19 states 2011 – E. coli O104:H4 Fenugreek sprouts 810 ill, 39 deaths Seed from Egypt, grown in Germany, distributed in Europe 2011 – Listeria monocytogenes California chopped lettuce Recall only, no reported illnesses ?

Five commodity groups account for more than 75% of produce related outbreaks ( ) Commodity % Produce Outbreaks Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach) 30 % Tomatoes 17 % Cantaloupe 13% Herbs (basil, parsley) 11% Green onions 5%

Good Agricultural Practices Procedures and practices for preventing on-farm contamination of agricultural crops Water Manure and Biosolids Worker Health and Hygiene Sanitary Facilities Field Sanitation Packing Facility Sanitation Transportation Trace-back

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (S510) Passed by the U.S. House and Senate and signed by the president January 5, Directs FDA to: – issue guidance documents to reduce the risk from the most significant foodborne contaminants – Establish minimum standards for safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables based on known safety risks

S510 Exemptions (Tester Amendment) Farms who: – have less than $500,000 in annual gross food sales AND – sell more than half of their produce directly to consumers, restaurants, or grocery stores » Within the state it was grown, or » Out of state if within 275 miles of the farm GrowerDistributor Consumer Retail Direct Non- Direct GrowerRetailConsumer

Direct sales exemption for farms with gross sales less than $500,000 BUT, There must be prominent signage on display at the sales point giving purchasers the business name and address of the producer. Permits FDA to revoke exemptions in the event of a food outbreak directly linked to the facility or to protect the public health.

Questions that remain unanswered What GAP standards will FDA choose to enforce? How will FDA enforce them? training, a written plan, a self-audit, a third-party inspection? How will FDA assure consumers that exempt growers are following GAPs?

Retailers are requiring verification of on-farm food safety practices Third party farm audits

Completing a GAP audit is increasingly becoming a part of doing business N = 15 Developing GAP Training for Growers: Perspectives from Pennsylvania Supermarkets. Tobin D, Thomson J, LaBorde L, Bagdonis J. Journal of Extension (in Press)

USDA AMS Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program Third party inspection Requires a written food safety program Documentation in critical areas Corrective actions specified in advance Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has a program to help subsidize cost of USDA audits

United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program General Produce, Mushrooms (AMI), Apples (WS Dept Ag), Leafy Greens (?) General Questions - Farm Review - Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities - House Packing Facility Storage and Transportation - Wholesale Distribution Center/ Terminal Warehouses – Preventive Food Defense Procedures

Global Food Safety Initiative (GFS) Benchmarking process to determine equivalence of food safety practices and documentation requirements BRC Dutch HACCP FSSC GRMSIFS SQF 2000 L2 Synergy Manufacturing GAA Global GAP SQF 1000 L2 Primus GFS Ag Production Canada GAP

Global GAP SQF 1000 L2 Primus GFS Canada GAP RETAIL USDA GAP Verification FDA FSMA Produce Standards The GOAL: One farm audit for all commodities, acceptable to all buyers, reasonably priced, and do-able! INDUSTRY GOV’T United Fresh Produce GAP Harmonization initialize

Penn State Mushroom Food Safety Program

Effect of Phase II compost pasteurization on pathogenic bacteria Fate of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in casing soil Tracking Listeria monocytogenes in mushroom composting, packing, and slicing environments Direct observations of worker behaviors made at farm and packing houses Research

Develop mushroom production food safety standards – MGAPs Develop a USDA mushroom specific food safety audit Develop bilingual worker training materials Workshops, webinars, guidance documents Develop Harmonized MGAP audit for GFSI approval Extension

Keeping Fresh Produce Safe Using Good Agricultural Practices Winter 2011 Workshops 219 attended at 8 statewide locations

GAP tools “Good Agricultural Practices for Pennsylvania Fruit and Vegetable Growers” Interpretation and guidance for growers Based on USDA policy and instruction handbook for auditors

GAP tools Guides the grower through the process of writing a GAPs plan Provides a means to directly address each area of an audit Fill-in boxes for required documentation Flip chart training materials

Confidence in ability to write a food safety plan increased

Confidence in ability to prepare for a third party audit increased

Doveryai, no proveryai

foodsafety.psu.edu/gaps