For more than a decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the challenge of making fresh produce safer. However, it has relied on voluntary guidelines. This document summarizes a decade of government initiatives that fall short of the mandatory and enforceable federal safety standards needed for domestic and imported fresh fruits and vegetables:
February 2008
FDA issues Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables.1
Guidance document addresses food safety hazards and good agricultural and management practices for “fresh-cut produce” -- fresh fruits and vegetables have been minimally processed and altered in form by peeling, slicing, chopping, shredding, coring, or trimming, with or without washing, prior to being packaged.
Because it is a guidance document and not a regulation, the guide does not have the force and effect of law and thus is not subject to enforcement.
October 2007
FDA and the California Department of Public Health Leafy Greens Initiative.2
FDA and the California Department of Public Health expand their efforts in the Lettuce Initiative and focus more broadly on a range of leafy greens, including spinach. FDA investigators will visit farms in California to assess the prevalence of factors in and near the field environment, which may contribute to potential contamination of leafy greens.
June 2007
FDA releases Tomato Safety Initiative.3
Initiative is in response to recurring Salmonella outbreaks associated with fresh and fresh-cut tomatoes. FDA will visit tomato farms and packing facilities in Virginia and Florida to assess their food safety practices.
August 2006
FDA introduces Lettuce Initiative.4
Initiative is in response to recurring outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 associated with fresh and fresh-cut lettuce. Using a risk-based approach, resources will be directed toward the areas that are most likely to be the source of contamination. FDA indicates that it will consider regulatory action, as appropriate.
November 2005
FDA sends letter to Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship Fresh Lettuce and Fresh-Cut Lettuce.5
After continued outbreaks relating to lettuce and other leafy greens, FDA writes to producers of fresh and fresh-cut lettuce and other leafy greens, particularly from California, reiterating its safety concerns. It “strongly encourages” firms to review their current operations and modify them accordingly to ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to provide a safe product to consumers.
June 2004
FDA issues Produce Safety Action Plan.6
The Action Plan has four general objectives: to 1) prevent pathogenic contamination of fresh produce; 2) minimize the public health impact when contamination of fresh produce occurs; 3) improve communication with producers, preparers, and consumers about fresh produce; and 4) facilitate and support research relevant to fresh produce.
FDA indicates that it will measure achievement of these objectives by considering the issuance of guidance, regulations and other tools, as well as by the incidence of contaminated produce identified during sampling surveys.
February 2004
FDA sends letter to Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship Fresh Lettuce and Fresh Tomatoes.7
FDA “strongly encourages” firms that deal with fresh lettuce or tomatoes to review their current operations to ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to provide a safe product to consumers.
September 2001
FDA releases report Analysis and Evaluation of Preventive Control Measures for the Control and Reduction/Elimination of Microbial Hazards on Fresh and Fresh-Cut Produce.8
Report summarizes the current scientific research relating to the various methods of eliminating or reducing pathogens on whole and fresh-cut produce.
January 2001
FDA releases results of its survey of imported fresh produce.9
The initial survey of imported produce found that 4% of the samples were positive for pathogenic contamination, and the two produce items with the greatest incidence of pathogen contamination were cilantro and cantaloupe.
October 1999
FDA issues Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Sprouted Seeds and Microbial Testing of Spent Irrigation Water During Sprout Production.10
These are two guidance documents, one that advises sprout producers and seed suppliers of steps they should take to reduce microbial hazards common to sprout production, and a second that provides the latest information about testing spent irrigation water.
Because these are “guidance documents” and not regulations, they do not have the force and effect of law and thus are not subject to enforcement.
March 1999
FDA initiates a sample survey focused on high-volume imported fresh produce.
This is the first of a series of surveys of domestically produced and imported fresh fruits and vegetables, the goal of which are to obtain more data on the incidence and extent of pathogen contamination.
April 1998
FDA issues the Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.11
Guidance document addresses microbial food safety hazards and good agricultural and management practices common to the growing, harvesting, washing, sorting, packing, and transporting of most fruits and vegetables sold to consumers in an unprocessed or minimally processed (raw) form.
Because it is a “guidance document” and not a regulation, the guide does not have the force and effect of law and thus is not subject to enforcement.
October 1997
FDA introduces Produce Safety Initiative.12
The goal of this initiative is to enhance FDA oversight for imported foods by pushing for enactment of new legislative authority; developing guidances on Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices; and improving monitoring and inspection activities abroad.
May 1997
Clinton Administration issues, From Farm to Table: A National Food Safety Initiative.13
FDA indicates that it will immediately identify preventive measures to address public-health problems associated with fruits and vegetables; undertake a comprehensive review of current production and food-safety programs including inspection, sampling, and analytical methods; and will work with USDA to evaluate the feasibility of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach for fresh produce.
The Pew Charitable Trusts commends Representative Tom Latham (R-IA) for his leadership in securing approximately $27 million for food safety in the House appropriations bill funding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The new money would help the FDA protect millions of Americans from the dangers of foodborne illnesses and strengthen consumer confidence in the food supply.
More infoA multistate outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to ground turkey in 2011 sickened 136 people, causing 37 hospitalizations and one death. The Pew Charitable Trusts' analysis of the outbreak found numerous inadequacies in the foodborne illness surveillance system that, if addressed, could help to prevent illnesses and, in some cases, deaths.
More infoNo matter how careful you are, foodborne bacteria can find a way into your child’s lunch and make him or her sick. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. Children are often among the most vulnerable, and in some cases, illnesses can lead to hospitalization, long-term health complications and even death.
More infoThis interactive graphic represents the ten most widespread multistate foodborne illness outbreaks linked to FDA-regulated products since FSMA was enacted, which constitute a small portion of total foodborne illnesses reported during that period.
More infoIn recent months, the White House has stalled on a host of pending rules, including implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
More infoCopyright(c) 1996-2012 The Pew Charitable Trusts. All Rights Reserved.
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