PMA announces multi-faceted food safety program
PMA announces multi-faceted food safety program
SAN DIEGO -- Produce Marketing Association President Bryan Silbermann announced Oct. 21 that the association's board of directors approved the outline of a comprehensive new program to ensure consumers' continued confidence in the safety of produce.
At its annual meeting, held Oct. 20 here at PMA's Fresh Summit, the board authorized $1 million in new funds to be allocated over the next 14 months to a four-pronged program designed to reinforce existing and determine new industry standards for food safety that extend from field to fork.
The plan will be coordinated with key industry association partners to avoid duplication and ensure a timely response. The activities in the plan will also form the basis of proactive communications with state and federal government regulators.
The multi-faceted program will include a research agenda to enhance growing and processing practices, enhanced education and training for all parts of the supply chain, and a verification component to help industry members evaluate their adherence to benchmark practices. In addition, the plan calls for a consumer communications campaign aimed at rebuilding confidence in produce.
"In the past few weeks, the industry has faced a perfect storm of food safety issues that has extended beyond the salad business to touch the entire industry, no matter what product you grow, package, transport, or sell," Mr. Silbermann said in a statement. "This storm represents a tipping point for fresh produce, and our industry will be judged by our customers and the government by how much we change to strengthen our supply chain in the weeks, months and years ahead."
PMA Executive Committee Chairman Janet Erickson, executive vice president of purchasing quality assurance for Del Taco LLC in Lake Forest, CA, added, "The plan will be an important factor in reinforcing the entire produce value chain and will be instrumental in helping the industry achieve its goal of zero illness. I am looking forward to working with the volunteer leaders of the other key associations to implement the plan."
At its annual meeting, held Oct. 20 here at PMA's Fresh Summit, the board authorized $1 million in new funds to be allocated over the next 14 months to a four-pronged program designed to reinforce existing and determine new industry standards for food safety that extend from field to fork.
The plan will be coordinated with key industry association partners to avoid duplication and ensure a timely response. The activities in the plan will also form the basis of proactive communications with state and federal government regulators.
The multi-faceted program will include a research agenda to enhance growing and processing practices, enhanced education and training for all parts of the supply chain, and a verification component to help industry members evaluate their adherence to benchmark practices. In addition, the plan calls for a consumer communications campaign aimed at rebuilding confidence in produce.
"In the past few weeks, the industry has faced a perfect storm of food safety issues that has extended beyond the salad business to touch the entire industry, no matter what product you grow, package, transport, or sell," Mr. Silbermann said in a statement. "This storm represents a tipping point for fresh produce, and our industry will be judged by our customers and the government by how much we change to strengthen our supply chain in the weeks, months and years ahead."
PMA Executive Committee Chairman Janet Erickson, executive vice president of purchasing quality assurance for Del Taco LLC in Lake Forest, CA, added, "The plan will be an important factor in reinforcing the entire produce value chain and will be instrumental in helping the industry achieve its goal of zero illness. I am looking forward to working with the volunteer leaders of the other key associations to implement the plan."
