Leafy Greens Advisory Board named
Leafy Greens Advisory Board named
The California Leafy Greens Advisory Board has been appointed, and the first meeting is set for Feb. 23 in Woodland, CA. Soon after, the board is expected to approve new mandatory food safety standards that will govern all handlers who sign the agreement.
Though the California Department of Food & Agriculture has said that 90 percent of the leafy greens production in the state is represented, one major handler -- Fresh Express -- has declined to participate
Mike Mitchell, director of communications for Chiquita Brands Inc., which owns Fresh Express, said that the nation's largest supplier of packaged salads is in "full support of improved food safety standards." In fact, he said that Chiquita, and Fresh Express by extension, would encourage all handlers that do not have food safety standards that meet the improved good agricultural practice metrics defined within the new marketing agreement to adopt them promptly.
Mr. Mitchell said that Fresh Express's decision not to participate in the program is based on a variety of factors, including its own food safety standards for all its plants in California and around the world that it believes already meet or exceed those in the marketing agreement.
In addition, he said that Fresh Express favors a national solution to the food- safety issue rather than a regional one, worrying that consumers might be confused and have their expectations lifted too high by a regional approach. While GAP metrics have been developed and are being circulated, the Leafy Greens Advisory Board, which has not yet met, is charged with adopting the food-safety standards that define the marketing agreement.
Western Growers Association President Tom Nassif said that the board is expected to begin that approval process at its first meeting, but it will be its task, with the oversight of CDFA, to adopt, reject or amend the new GAP metrics that have been developed.
The metrics were established through many industry meetings with the help of input from the scientific community, and those efforts were financed and organized largely by WGA, the Produce Marketing Association and the California Farm Bureau, with the oversight and input from officials of the California Department of Health Services and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
In addition, Mr. Nassif said that the group of industry associations is working through a scientific consulting firm (Intertox) to vet the new GAP metrics with a peer review panel. That panel consists of six food-safety scientists recognized as experts in their fields: Don Vesley and Frank Busta of the University of Minnesota; Linda Harris and Trevor Suslow of the University of California-Davis; Bob Gravani of Cornell University; and Larry Beuchat of the University of Georgia.
WGA Vice President of Science & Technology Hank Giclas said that three members of the panel were recommended by Intertox and endorsed by FDA and CDHS. In addition, those two government agencies recommended three other panelists. Individually, the scientists represent the top food-safety research programs in the nation.
The six scientists have each received the GAP metrics and were independently reviewing them the week of Feb. 12. On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mr. Giclas said that one report was received and "we expect the others by the end of the week or early next week."
Those peer review reports will be submitted to the Leafy Greens Advisory Board as it tackles the task of establishing the food-safety standards that its handler-members must incorporate into their own programs.
The 13-member advisory board was appointed by CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. Each board member represents a signatory to the agreement and a growing district in California.
Though the California Department of Food & Agriculture has said that 90 percent of the leafy greens production in the state is represented, one major handler -- Fresh Express -- has declined to participate
Mike Mitchell, director of communications for Chiquita Brands Inc., which owns Fresh Express, said that the nation's largest supplier of packaged salads is in "full support of improved food safety standards." In fact, he said that Chiquita, and Fresh Express by extension, would encourage all handlers that do not have food safety standards that meet the improved good agricultural practice metrics defined within the new marketing agreement to adopt them promptly.
Mr. Mitchell said that Fresh Express's decision not to participate in the program is based on a variety of factors, including its own food safety standards for all its plants in California and around the world that it believes already meet or exceed those in the marketing agreement.
In addition, he said that Fresh Express favors a national solution to the food- safety issue rather than a regional one, worrying that consumers might be confused and have their expectations lifted too high by a regional approach. While GAP metrics have been developed and are being circulated, the Leafy Greens Advisory Board, which has not yet met, is charged with adopting the food-safety standards that define the marketing agreement.
Western Growers Association President Tom Nassif said that the board is expected to begin that approval process at its first meeting, but it will be its task, with the oversight of CDFA, to adopt, reject or amend the new GAP metrics that have been developed.
The metrics were established through many industry meetings with the help of input from the scientific community, and those efforts were financed and organized largely by WGA, the Produce Marketing Association and the California Farm Bureau, with the oversight and input from officials of the California Department of Health Services and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
In addition, Mr. Nassif said that the group of industry associations is working through a scientific consulting firm (Intertox) to vet the new GAP metrics with a peer review panel. That panel consists of six food-safety scientists recognized as experts in their fields: Don Vesley and Frank Busta of the University of Minnesota; Linda Harris and Trevor Suslow of the University of California-Davis; Bob Gravani of Cornell University; and Larry Beuchat of the University of Georgia.
WGA Vice President of Science & Technology Hank Giclas said that three members of the panel were recommended by Intertox and endorsed by FDA and CDHS. In addition, those two government agencies recommended three other panelists. Individually, the scientists represent the top food-safety research programs in the nation.
The six scientists have each received the GAP metrics and were independently reviewing them the week of Feb. 12. On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mr. Giclas said that one report was received and "we expect the others by the end of the week or early next week."
Those peer review reports will be submitted to the Leafy Greens Advisory Board as it tackles the task of establishing the food-safety standards that its handler-members must incorporate into their own programs.
The 13-member advisory board was appointed by CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. Each board member represents a signatory to the agreement and a growing district in California.
