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Last Chance! Register for the Produce Safety Inspection Webinar
Learn more about the FDA’s produce safety inspections and take home key messages that could help you prepare for them, in the upcoming FDA’s Produce Safety Inspections Status webinar on February 19. Regulatory produce inspections are taking place to verify compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety rule in the United ...
Upcoming Lunch & Learn Webinar Covers Root Cause Analysis and Produce Safety
It is imperative for the produce industry to identify and understand the cause or causes of food safety system failures during growing, harvesting and post-harvest operations. Root Cause Analysis is a method of evaluating failures and involves a systematic process to determine how and why a failure occurred. This approach is commonly applied to process ...
FDA to Conduct Romaine Lettuce Surveillance Sampling Assignment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently shared with produce industry representatives their surveillance efforts of raw agricultural commodity romaine lettuce. This sampling assignment includes the collection of romaine lettuce samples to test for Salmonella spp. and Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Starting this month (November 2019), the FDA plans to collect 270 samples…
FDA, CDC Report 67 Cases of E.coli Illnesses Linked to Romaine
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their notices regarding the current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region. According to the CDC, there is now a total of 67 E. coli O157:H7 reported illnesses, an increase ...
Webinar Series: Whole Genome Sequencing – Regulatory Applications
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is now commonplace technology in food regulatory agencies. Food and environmental samples are routinely analyzed using WGS techniques. Dr. Eric Brown will discuss the impact of WGS analysis on their public health efforts, not only in outbreak investigations but also in routine monitoring and surveillance programs. This presentation will share information ...
CDC Reports 35 Additional Illnesses due to E.coli Outbreak
As previously reported in Spotlight, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently disseminated notices regarding the current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region. According to the CDC, there is now a total of 102 E. coli O157:H7 reported illnesses across…
Webinar Series: Gain Insight on Whole Genome Sequencing
Don’t miss your chance to gain insight on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) during the upcoming WGS Webinar Series launching January 23rd, 2020. WGS is an increasingly valuable tool for the produce industry with a broad scope of applications from food safety management and surveillance to outbreak investigations. The first webinar will be presented by Dr. Martin Wiedmann, professor…
CDFA Holding Town Hall Meeting To Discuss Produce Safety Research Opportunities
In light of the 2018 and 2019 E.coli O157:H7 outbreaks, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will be hosting a town hall meeting to explain the intent of a longitudinal environmental research study in California; identify leafy green growers interested in advancing what is currently known in food safety; and share details about ...
WG to Host FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Course
Western Growers will be hosting a Train-the-Trainer FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) course on April 9 – 11, 2019. This course combines the FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs participant course with the FSPCA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs Lead Instructor course. This combination course is coordinated by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA).…
Salinas-Linked Romaine Lettuce Outbreaks Declared Over
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted its consumer advisory to avoid romaine lettuce from the Salinas growing region, which was in place due to recent E.coli outbreaks associated with romaine lettuce. The FDA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been tracking three romaine-linked outbreaks, all of which are now declared over. ...
Webinar: FDA’s Produce Safety Inspections Status – At a Glance
Regulatory produce inspections are taking place to verify compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Produce Safety rule in the United States. These farm inspections are executed by 42 state departments of agriculture and 2 departments of health that have cooperative agreements with the FDA. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)…
Register for the May 22 Lunch & Learn Webinar: The Global Reach of the U.S. Produce Industry
On May 22, 2019, Western Growers Science & Technology is hosting a Lunch & Learn webinar to discuss current drivers and future trends of international trade of produce. Featured speaker Miguel I. Gomez will review the implications for those managing/planning activities for produce companies in an increasingly globalized produce industry. Webinar Details The Global Reach ...
Complimentary FSMA Compliant Grower Training for Strawberry Growers
Strawberry growers and their employees interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety are invited to attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training on December 18. This workshop is brought to you by the California Strawberry Commission…
Webinar Series: The Science of Whole Genome Sequencing: An Overview for the Food Industry
Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics are changing our understanding of the role of comparative food microbiology, from isolate identification and strain discrimination to more detailed genomic analysis aimed at predicting the antibiotic resistance or pathogenicity. In this webinar, Dr. Jonathan Jacobs will review the technical and logistical fundamentals of implementing end-to-end…
E. coli Outbreak Update
Today, December 13, FDA updated its ongoing investigation and public advisory related to the E. coli outbreak currently linked to romaine lettuce. While the traceback investigation is ongoing, FDA has identified a pathogen matching the outbreak strain in an agricultural reservoir on the property of a single farm. The water from the reservoir on this ...
Register Now for July 2 Food Safety Research Webinar
Join us on Monday, July 2, for a webinar focusing on the latest food safety research findings and trends discussed at the recent Center for Produce Safety Research Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This webinar will present a summary of the key food safety highlights from that event. Additionally, you will hear from our featured speakers as ...
Are You Ready for a Crisis? April 25 Lunch & Learn Helps You Prepare
Join us on Wednesday, April 25, for a Lunch & Learn webinar that will focus on crisis preparation and response. A well-developed crisis and communications plan is essential to deal with any crisis. During the webinar, Western Growers members will learn about the importance of protecting a company’s brand and minimizing damage to its sales ...
WG Releases Report on Food Safety Research Findings
Western Growers has released a new report summarizing important food safety research findings to help produce industry members understand relevant food safety research and how key findings apply to day-to-day operations.