PMA conference session brings conference attendees up to date on food-safety efforts
PMA conference session brings conference attendees up to date on food-safety efforts
MONTEREY, CA -- Jorge Hernandez of U.S. Foodservice called food safety an "industry issue," and Kathy Means of the Produce Marketing Association called it a "supply-chain issue," drilling home the point that food safety is a concern for all.
The two industry representatives' comments came during a panel discussion on food safety at PMA's 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition, held here July 13-15.
Mr. Hernandez, U.S. Foodservice's vice president of food safety and quality assurance, and Ms. Means, PMA's vice president of government relations, were joined on the panel by Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Mr. Hernandez said that in 2004, the Food & Drug Administration demanded from the industry a produce action plan designed to reduce the risks of foodborne outbreaks. In addition to leafy greens, at the top of FDA's list of fresh produce concerns were sprouts, melons and tomatoes.
Following the E. coli outbreak linked to spinach last year, Mr. Hernandez said that he heard perspective from around the country that the problem was a California issue or a spinach issue.
"It's an international issue," Mr. Hernandez said. "Even if you don't grow leafy greens, you need to implement [food-safety standards]." He added that the fresh produce industry is going to "sink or swim together."
Mr. Horsfall explained details of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. The agreement's authority extends to handlers who pay an assessment. Handlers will use a service mark denoting CDFA certification on bills of lading and other paperwork for buyers at foodservice and retail to show that the handler is using good agricultural practices.
Audits will be conducted by CDFA inspectors who are USDA-trained, Mr. Horsfall said. Handlers who fare poorly on audits will face consequences that include demand for corrective action - on the lesser violation end - to the loss of use of the certification mark on the more severe violation end. Loss of the certification mark would be published on the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement's web site, he said.
Industry groups developed the good agricultural practice metrics. Though the GAP metrics have been determined, they still will evolve over time, Mr. Horsfall said.
The number of handlers signed on to the agreement stood at 111 as of July 14, with audits set to begin Monday, July 23. For the first round of audits, handlers will receive notification 24 to 48 hours prior to the audit.
Ms. Means said that a lot would happen that is applicable to growers at the upcoming Center for Produce Safety, to be located in University of California at Davis' Western Institute for Food Safety & Security. PMA is one of the primary donors to the center.
Ms. Means emphasized the need for companies to have media-trained spokespeople ready to respond to media queries at times of crisis. She elaborated on this issue in a separate food-safety forum she hosted at the conference.
The two industry representatives' comments came during a panel discussion on food safety at PMA's 26th annual Foodservice Conference & Exposition, held here July 13-15.
Mr. Hernandez, U.S. Foodservice's vice president of food safety and quality assurance, and Ms. Means, PMA's vice president of government relations, were joined on the panel by Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
Mr. Hernandez said that in 2004, the Food & Drug Administration demanded from the industry a produce action plan designed to reduce the risks of foodborne outbreaks. In addition to leafy greens, at the top of FDA's list of fresh produce concerns were sprouts, melons and tomatoes.
Following the E. coli outbreak linked to spinach last year, Mr. Hernandez said that he heard perspective from around the country that the problem was a California issue or a spinach issue.
"It's an international issue," Mr. Hernandez said. "Even if you don't grow leafy greens, you need to implement [food-safety standards]." He added that the fresh produce industry is going to "sink or swim together."
Mr. Horsfall explained details of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. The agreement's authority extends to handlers who pay an assessment. Handlers will use a service mark denoting CDFA certification on bills of lading and other paperwork for buyers at foodservice and retail to show that the handler is using good agricultural practices.
Audits will be conducted by CDFA inspectors who are USDA-trained, Mr. Horsfall said. Handlers who fare poorly on audits will face consequences that include demand for corrective action - on the lesser violation end - to the loss of use of the certification mark on the more severe violation end. Loss of the certification mark would be published on the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement's web site, he said.
Industry groups developed the good agricultural practice metrics. Though the GAP metrics have been determined, they still will evolve over time, Mr. Horsfall said.
The number of handlers signed on to the agreement stood at 111 as of July 14, with audits set to begin Monday, July 23. For the first round of audits, handlers will receive notification 24 to 48 hours prior to the audit.
Ms. Means said that a lot would happen that is applicable to growers at the upcoming Center for Produce Safety, to be located in University of California at Davis' Western Institute for Food Safety & Security. PMA is one of the primary donors to the center.
Ms. Means emphasized the need for companies to have media-trained spokespeople ready to respond to media queries at times of crisis. She elaborated on this issue in a separate food-safety forum she hosted at the conference.
