Presentation by Joanna E. Radford, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Transcription

1 Presentation by Joanna E. Radford, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent North Carolina Cooperative Extension

2 Americans are concerned about the safety of the U.S. food supply: NPR survey (July 2010) 61% indicated significant concern about food safety Top concerns: Meat (51% concerned) Seafood (25.1% concerned) Fresh Produce (23.4% concerned)

3 Some say that the U.S. has one of the safest food systems in the world, but each year there are: 48 million foodborne illnesses 128,000 hospitalizations 3,000 deaths Preventing foodborne illnesses and death remains a major public health challenge. CDC

4 In the U.S. between 1970 and 2008, consumption of fresh vegetables increased by 67% 108 lbs. Per capita in lbs. Per capita in 2008 From 1976 to 2007 consumption of fresh fruit increased by 19% 84 lbs. Per capita in lbs. Per capita in 2007

5 Fresh produce outbreaks as % of total outbreaks Less than 1% in 1970 s More than 6% in 1990 s Median size of produce-related outbreaks doubled Proportion of outbreak-associated cases attributed to fresh produce increased from <1% to 12% of illnesses Now greater public awareness of fresh produce as a source of foodborne illness Lynch et al Epidemiol. Infect 137:

6 Government FDA Published food safety guide for produce in 1998 USDA Implemented GAPs audit for certification of operations FSMA, December 21, 2010 Universities Increased produce safety research Produce Buyers Began requiring produce food safety programs Cooperative Extension Developed GAPs training programs Help prepare growers for third party audits

7 USDA and FDA Issue Joint Statement: Coordinating Efforts to Ensure Safety of Produce FDA will handle compliance and regulation USDA will still handle audits Immediate impacts of the new law Mandatory recall Imported Food Safety

8 Before December, 2010 Industry Driven Voluntary Depends on Buyer Requirements After December, 2010 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Farm based audits same as before

9 Fresh produce food safety program designed to minimize risk of foodborne illness acquired by consumption of fresh produce. Areas of management Pre-Plant Production Harvest Post-Harvest NOTE: Each farm develops their own Food Safety plan depending on their individual farm operation

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11 Passes TWO required parts of the USDA GAP Audit Verification Checklist PLUS passes ONE other section of the checklist Farms are encouraged to set a goal to seek GAP certification in all areas that apply to their operations.

12 Plan of Action Manual Helps grower to take a close look at the farm operation Assess the farm needs related to food safety Includes self audits - - USDA Self GAP Audit and Cornell GAP Farm Self Assessment Templates given to growers to help organize the farm responses to coincide with audit questions

13 Shows supporting documents, log sheets, standard operating procedures and policies for the operation and other documents that are required to support farm responses

14 Demographic Questions (Required) General Questions (Required) Section 1 Farm Review Section 2 Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities Section 3 House Packing Facility Section 4 Storage and Transport Section 5 Not Used Section 6 Wholesale Distribution Center/Terminal Warehouses Section 7 Preventative Food Defense Procedures

15 Standard Operating Procedure Farm Name: Doc. No. SOP-02 Title: Proper Handwashing Techniques for Employees and Visitors Effective Date: March 15, 2010 Developed by: GAP Certification Class at Surry Community College 1. Turn on and allow water to wet the hands and wrists. 2. Use soap bar or liquid soap and apply to the hands. 3. Rub hands vigorously together for seconds. 4. Scrub hands thoroughly including back of hands, between the fingers, around cuticles and under the wrists. 5. Under a stream of running water, rinse the hands well 6. Dry the hands with a clean towel or disposable paper towel. 7. If using a public restroom, a paper towel should be used to turn the faucet off. 8. Dispose of the towel in the proper receptacle.

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20 Shipping Date Grower/ Vender Customer/ Destination Lot No. John J. Smith

21 Package of ten signs most needed for your GAP Audit. Package includes the following: Potable Water (bilingual) Water is Safe to Drink (bilingual) How to Wash Hands (English and Spanish) Wash Before Returning to Work (bilingual) First Aid Station Pesticide Storage Area Keep Out-Field Spray (bilingual) Field Toilet Use (bilingual) Toilet Paper Use (bilingual)

22 North Carolina Department of Agriculture Marketing Division Brooke Stephenson (252) Fairly expensive Grants available through NCDA until depleted ($600) Certification certificate

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25 Special Thanks to: Wythe Morris, ANR Agent, Commercial Horticulture Virginia Cooperative Extension T. Bryan Cave, Extension Director North Carolina Cooperative Extension For Parts of this Presentation Joanna E. Radford, ANR Agent Commercial & Consumer Horticulture North Carolina Cooperative Extension

26 The new program will take several years to roll out; even longer to become fully effective. GAP Certification continues to be voluntary until a future statement is issued by FDA. The program continues to be industry driven although the law is on the books. Know what your buyers want in the way of GAP Certification. Don t wait until the last minute if you know you need to be GAP Certified the process takes reasonable time and effort.

27 What about the Tester-Hagan Amendment related to the new FSMA? Growers may choose to be exempt if they produce less than $500,000 of product over the previous three years. (Must be documented and verified) You may choose to be exempt but you may severely limit your buyers and markets to limited retail and direct markets (DM sources must account for 50%) within the state and no greater than 275 mile radius. Exempt growers will be required to post to their customers that they have chosen not to participate in a Food Safety/ GAP Certification program (pending clarification) Point of purchase displays Labels Internet, invoice and other Note to Direct Marketers: CSA s, Farmers Markets, Roadside Stands, PYO are all considered retail food establishments under new law and regulated by state and local agencies i.e. licensed by locality and state health departments.

28 Documentation that demonstrates that the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the facility has identified potential hazards associated with the food being produced, is implementing preventive controls to address the hazards, and is monitoring the preventive controls to ensure that such controls are effective. Documentation will include: licenses, inspection reports, certificates, permits, credentials, certification by an appropriate agency

29 NO PREEMPTION-Compliance with this subsection shall not relieve any person from liability at common law or under State statutory law.