Author: Sonia Salas
Posts By: Sonia Salas
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Are You Prepared for the Produce Safety Rule Inspections?
By Sonia Salas The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) expanded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) inspectional authority and imposed many new requirements. Do you know what to do if a Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspector knocks on your door? PSR regulatory inspections are around the corner! They are set to begin in ...
FSMA’s Rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Focuses on Produce
Based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (FDA) Global Agriculture Trade System, it is evident that the importation of fruit and vegetables has dramatically increased in the last 10 years. As a result of a growing global produce industry combined with FDA’s newly implemented rule on Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FVSP) for ...
Food Safety, Security, and Defense in a Pandemic
Just a few months ago, no one knew that SARS-CoV-2 existed. As of April 17, 2020, the virus had spread to 185 countries, infecting more than 2.2 million people worldwide. By the time you read this, those numbers will have increased even more. SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has disrupted ...
The Mystery Behind Seasonality – A Leafy Green Issue?
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreaks in 2018 and 2019 linked to leafy greens have raised many questions regarding recurring STEC outbreaks. Until 2018 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presented their analysis of eight years-worth of data to industry, it was largely unknown ...
Attention Shifts to Climate Change
On January 27, 2021, President Biden’s executive order sent a loud and clear message regarding his administration’s plans to tackle climate change. Framed in the context of a domestic and international climate crisis, it called for a holistic international leadership of the United States on climate issues. The future political outlook calls the fresh produce ...
Science: Agricultural Water Management Evolution
By Sonia Salas, WG Assistant Vice President of Science The fresh produce industry exists to offer safe and nutritious food. Many investments and controls continue to be implemented with the goal of enhancing fresh produce safety. Contamination can come from different sources on and outside the farm, including agricultural water. Therefore, knowing how to manage ...
Whole Genome Sequencing and Food Safety
In recent food safety conferences, prominent researchers and key regulatory officials have indicated that the use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in surveillance and investigative programs is increasing. WGS technology is not new, but it is a hot topic that has raised many questions and the interest of several stakeholders in the last several months. ...
Food Waste: Reality Check
The global population of 7.3 billion is growing at an annual rate of 1.1 percent—approximately 75 million people every year. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), feeding a world population of 9.7 billion people in 2050 will require increasing overall food production by about 70 percent. Key challenges to accomplishing this include land ...
Free Produce Safety Webinar on Adjacent Land Use Scheduled for Nov. 4
A free webinar supported by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative 2020 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be held on Nov. 4, entitled “Adjacent Land Use: Done Talking About It? Ready To Do Something?” Dr. Trevor Suslow, Extension Research Specialist Emeritus at the University of California, Davis Department of Plant Sciences, ...
Food Safety Alert- Salmonella outbreak linked to whole Red, Yellow and White Onions
On October 20, 2021, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) posted a Food Safety Alert for a Salmonella outbreak linked to onions. The CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) epidemiologic and traceback data shows that illnesses in this outbreak are linked to whole red, white and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico. ...
U.S. Officials Confirm Food Does Not Transmit COVID-19
While recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) imply a possibility of COVID-19 transmission from food or food packing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, peer global regulatory bodies and leading food safety experts agree that there is no evidence to support transmission ...
Cornell University Offers Climate Change Leadership Course
The impacts of climate change on the global supply chain present complex challenges. Western Growers supports outreach efforts on this topic, including the opportunity for the produce industry to learn more about climate change from Cornell University experts. Join the Climate Change Leadership course hosted by Cornell University. This course will cover climate change science ...
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Updated Guidance on Protecting Vaccinated and At-Risk Workers from COVID-19
Based on recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration released updated guidance to protect workers from the coronavirus. While reiterating the vaccination is the best step to protect the workforce, the new guidance recommends: *Fully vaccinated workers in areas of substantial or ...
Jan. 21 Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccination for Food and Ag Workers
On January 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host a webinar to provide updates on COVID-19 vaccine implementation for food and agriculture essential workers. The webinar will also cover vaccine safety and confidence as well as recommendations for vaccine prioritization. EVENT DETAILS Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm ...
Whole Genome Sequencing Webinar Series Recap Materials Available Now
Western Growers recently hosted a 5-part webinar series on topics surrounding Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), which occurred once a month from January to May of 2020. The series started by exploring the basics of WGS and how this tool applies to food safety management. In later months, the topics evolved into sequencing protocols, case studies, ...
Webinar to Detail FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety
Western Growers, United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) and Produce Marketing Association (PMA) are hosting a webinar on August 5, 2020, that will provide an in-depth overview of the recently-released FDA New Era Blueprint. The blueprint outlines the approach FDA will take over the next decade to usher in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. The ...
FDA to Discuss Leafy Greens Action Plan During Webinar Next Week
Register today for U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) webinar to discuss the 2020 Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan. The webinar will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT/2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET. The Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan, which was released this past March, outlines steps the ...
CDFA Survey on Ag COVID-19 Needs due July 27
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is currently assessing COVID-19 information resource needs and is asking food and agriculture businesses across the state to participate in a brief survey. Results from the survey will help improve how COVID-19 information is relayed to California food and ag businesses. Don’t miss this opportunity to voice ...
Key Takeaways from FDA Leafy Greens Action Plan Webinar Today
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a webinar today to discuss several topics related to the safety of leafy greens. After FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas offered insightful opening remarks, the following topics were discussed: Latest Outbreak Investigation Report California Longitudinal Study and CDFA update Agricultural Water Treatment…
The Current State of Rapid Testing for the Fresh Produce Sector
In addition to prevention measures, there are additional measures and tools such as rapid testing that hold promise to offer timely information to support food safety decisions every day. Various methods and devices are already on the market, but there is confusion regarding rapid testing accuracy and what it means or does not mean. This ...