Impact of irrigation water type and sampling frequency on Microbial Water Quality Profiles required for compliance with U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule standards

Good agricultural practices (GAPs) and good handling practices (GHPs) encompass the general procedures that growers, packers and processors of fresh fruits and vegetables should follow to ensure the safety of their product. GAPs usually deal with preharvest practices (i.e., in the field), while GHPs cover postharvest practices, including packing, storage and shipping. This factsheet covers GAPs relating to packing operation sanitation. There are seven other Florida Cooperative Extension factsheets in the ‘Food Safety on the Farm’ series that focus on specific aspects of the GAPs program and how they relate to Florida crops and practices. Under the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), GAPs are a foundation of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). Other than for round tomatoes in Florida (T-GAPs regulation), GAPs have mainly been a voluntary program. Additionally the PSR mandates all non-exempt operations to follow these new FSMA federal guidelines (6), but all exempt commodities and for those producers exporting to foreign countries, GAPs may still be required. Both the mandatory PSR and GAPs aim to reduce the foodborne illness burden associated with produce.

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Evaluation of Seasonal Groundwater Quality Changes Associated with Groundwater Pumping and Level Fluctuations in an Agricultural Area, Korea

Water ◽

10.3390/w13010051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Kyoochul Ha ◽

Eunhee Lee ◽

Hyowon An ◽

Sunghyun Kim ◽

Changhui Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Groundwater Quality ◽

Groundwater Level ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Agricultural Area ◽

Water Type ◽

Quality Changes ◽

Groundwater Pumping ◽

Rice Paddies ◽

Groundwater Levels

This study was conducted to evaluate seasonal groundwater quality due to groundwater pumping and hydrochemical characteristics with groundwater level fluctuations in an agricultural area in Korea. Groundwater levels were observed for about one year using automatic monitoring sensors, and groundwater uses were estimated based on the monitoring data. Groundwater use in the area is closely related to irrigation for rice farming, and rising groundwater levels occur during the pumping, which may be caused by the irrigation water of rice paddies. Hydrochemical analysis results for two separate times (17 July and 1 October 2019) show that the dissolved components in groundwater decreased overall due to dilution, especially at wells in the alluvial aquifer and shallow depth. More than 50% of the samples were classified as CaHCO3 water type, and changes in water type occurred depending on the well location. Water quality changes were small at most wells, but changes at some wells were evident. In addition, the groundwater quality was confirmed to have the effect of saltwater supplied during the 2018 drought by comparison with seawater. According to principal component analysis (PCA), the water quality from July to October was confirmed to have changed due to dilution, and the effect was strong at shallow wells. In the study areas where rice paddy farming is active in summer, irrigation water may be one of the important factors changing the groundwater quality. These results provide a qualitative and quantitative basis for groundwater quality change in agricultural areas, particularly rice paddies areas, along with groundwater level and usage.

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Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule Compliance for United States Hard Cider Producers Using Ground-harvested Apples

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04096-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 698-705

Author(s):

Brianna L. Ewing ◽

Barbara A. Rasco

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Food Safety ◽

Food Product ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Human Pathogens ◽

Produce Safety ◽

Rule Compliance ◽

The Status ◽

Safety Rule ◽

Processing Steps

Apples (Malus domestica) are considered covered, or “nonexcluded,” produce under the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. The rule states that fruit that has unintentionally come in contact with the ground may not be used for human consumption unless there have been sufficient processing steps to reduce the risk of human pathogens in the final food product. Cider apples destined for hard cider production in many regions have traditionally been harvested at full ripeness when the fruit naturally drops or is easily shaken off the tree. This work reviews the status of cider apples under the Produce Safety Rule, presents the human pathogens of concern with usage of ground-harvested fruit, and describes recommendations, including processing steps, for cider apple growers and cider producers so they can ensure that their product is safe and that they are complying with the rule.

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Hydro-geochemical evaluation of groundwater for irrigation in the Ganges river basin areas of Bangladesh

10.21203/rs.3.rs-161359/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Md Shajedul Islam ◽

Md. Golam Mostafa

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

River Basin ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Total Hardness ◽

Water Type ◽

Irrigation Water Quality ◽

Ganges River ◽

The Ganges ◽

Ganges River Basin

Abstract Groundwater is a vital source of irrigation water, and it provides over 80% of the irrigated water supply in Bangladesh. The study aimed to assess the status of irrigation water of the Ganges river basin areas in the middle-west part of Bangladesh through the hydrogeochemical characterization and classification of groundwater. The study parameters were pH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, total hardness, Na+, K+, B, Cl−, HCO3 −, SO 42−, NO3 −, and PO43− along with irrigation water quality index (IWQindex), Na%, soluble sodium percentage, sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium bicarbonate, magnesium adsorption ratio, permeability index, and Kelley’s ratio. The results showed that most of the water samples were acidic in the pre-monsoon and alkaline in the post-monsoon seasons, and the water type was Ca-HCO3. The significant geochemical process in the area determined was calcite and dolomite mineral dissolution, and there was no active cation exchange, and silicate weathering occurred. The statistical analyses showed that both the geogenic and anthropogenic sources were controlling the chemistry of the groundwater aquifers. Concerning irrigation water quality, the results revealed that all the quality parameters and IWQindex (32.04 to 45.39) were within the safety ranges, except for the EC and total hardness. The study results would be useful for future groundwater monitoring and management of the Ganges basin areas of Bangladesh part.

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Hydrochemical Characterization and Suitability Assessment of Groundwater Quality in the Saboba and Chereponi Districts, Ghana

Hydrology ◽

10.3390/hydrology7030053 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Larry Pax Chegbeleh ◽

Delali Kwasi Aklika ◽

Bismark Awinbire Akurugu

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

World Health ◽

Water Type ◽

Suitability Assessment ◽

Major Cations ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Groundwater Samples ◽

Health Organization

Hydrochemical data of groundwater samples obtained from the mudstones, sandstones, and siltstones aquifer units that underlie the study area have been characterized. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of groundwater for drinking, domestic, and agricultural purposes. The physico-chemical parameters were initially compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for potable water. They were further subjected to various hydrochemical techniques to assess the overall water quality for drinking purposes. Conventional methods of assessing irrigation water suitability were also adopted. The results indicate that, with the exception of HCO3− characterized as unsuitable for drinking water, most of the parameters are within the WHO permissible limits and are thus characterized as suitable for drinking water. A few samples however show slight deviation. The results also show that the abundance of major cations in groundwater is in the order: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+. However, the abundance of the major anions is in the order: HCO3− > Cl− > SO42−. Na-HCO3 is thus inferred as the dominant water type in the area. Analyses of the overall Water Quality Index (WQI) and irrigation water assessment indices suggest that groundwater in the area is generally suitable for drinking, domestic, and irrigation purposes.

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Food Safety on the Farm: Produce Safety Rule and Good Agricultural Practices – Field Sanitation

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-fs160-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Jessica A. Lepper ◽

Jaysankar De ◽

Christopher Pabst ◽

Aswathy Sreedharan ◽

Renée M. Goodrich Schneider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Basic Principles ◽

Good Agricultural Practices ◽

Produce Safety ◽

Safety Rule ◽

Farm Produce ◽

Handling Practices ◽

And Control

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs) encompass the general procedures that growers, packers, and processors of fresh fruits and vegetables should follow to ensure the safety of their product. GAPs usually deal with preharvest practices (i.e., in the field), while GHPs cover postharvest practices, including packing and shipping. This 5-page fact sheet covers harvest practices associated with sanitation in the field, including basic principles for microbial food safety and control of potential hazards. This major revision is a part of the Food Safety on the Farm series and was written by Jessica Lepper, Jaysankar De, Christopher Pabst, Renée Goodrich-Schneider, and Keith Schneider and published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs160

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Comparative Assessment of Good Agricultural Practices Standards in Agricultural Product Quality Control Act with respect to Produce Safety Rule in Food Safety Modernization Act

Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety ◽

10.13103/jfhs.2018.33.1.12 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 12-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Deok-Hoon Yoon

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Food Safety ◽

Product Quality ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Comparative Assessment ◽

Agricultural Product ◽

Product Quality Control ◽

Good Agricultural Practices ◽

Produce Safety ◽

Safety Rule

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Microbial Quality of Agricultural Water Used in Produce Preharvest Production on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-185 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 81 (10) ◽

pp. 1661-1672 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

LAURA N. TRUITT ◽

KATHLEEN M. VAZQUEZ ◽

RACHEL C. PFUNTNER ◽

STEVEN L. RIDEOUT ◽

ARIE H. HAVELAAR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Water Samples ◽

Aerobic Bacteria ◽

Microbial Quality ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Eastern Shore ◽

Probable Number ◽

Produce Safety ◽

Safety Rule

ABSTRACT Several produce-borne outbreaks have been associated with the use of contaminated water during preharvest applications. Salmonella has been implicated in a number of these outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of agricultural surface water used in preharvest production on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule water standards. The study also examined the prevalence, concentration, and diversity of Salmonella in those water sources. Water samples (1 L) from 20 agricultural ponds were collected during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons (n = 400). Total aerobic bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli were enumerated for each sample. Population levels of each microorganism were calculated per 100-mL sample and log transformed, when necessary. Samples (250 mL) were also enriched for Salmonella. Presumptive Salmonella isolates were confirmed by PCR (invA gene) and were serotyped. In 2016, the concentration of Salmonella in each sample was also estimated by most probable number (MPN). Indicator bacteria and environmental and meteorological factors were analyzed for their association with the detection of a Salmonella-positive water sample by using logistic regression analysis. Seventeen of the 20 ponds met the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule standards for production agricultural water. Three ponds did not meet the standards because the statistical threshold value exceeded the limit. Salmonella was detected in 19% of water samples in each year (38 of 200 in 2015 and 38 of 200 in 2016). Of the 118 Salmonella isolates serotyped, 14 serotypes were identified with the most prevalent being Salmonella Newport. E. coli concentration, farm, and total aerobic bacteria concentration were significantly associated with the likelihood of detecting a Salmonella-positive sample The average concentration of Salmonella in all samples was 4.44 MPN/100 mL, with the limit of detection being 3.00 MPN/100 mL. The highest concentration of Salmonella was 93.0 MPN/100 mL. These data will assist in a better understanding of the risks that production water poses to produce contamination events.

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Evaluating the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule Standard for Microbial Quality of Agricultural Water for Growing Produce

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-17-122 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 1832-1841 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Arie H. Havelaar ◽

Kathleen M. Vazquez ◽

Zeynal Topalcengiz ◽

Rafael Muñoz-Carpena ◽

MICHELLE D. DANYLUK

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Microbial Quality ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Lognormal Distributions ◽

E Coli ◽

Produce Safety ◽

Quality Profile ◽

Safety Rule ◽

The U.S

ABSTRACT The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defined standards for the microbial quality of agricultural surface water used for irrigation. According to the FDA produce safety rule (PSR), a microbial water quality profile requires analysis of a minimum of 20 samples for Escherichia coli over 2 to 4 years. The geometric mean (GM) level of E. coli should not exceed 126 CFU/100 mL, and the statistical threshold value (STV) should not exceed 410 CFU/100 mL. The water quality profile should be updated by analysis of a minimum of five samples per year. We used an extensive set of data on levels of E. coli and other fecal indicator organisms, the presence or absence of Salmonella, and physicochemical parameters in six agricultural irrigation ponds in West Central Florida to evaluate the empirical and theoretical basis of this PSR. We found highly variable log-transformed E. coli levels, with standard deviations exceeding those assumed in the PSR by up to threefold. Lognormal distributions provided an acceptable fit to the data in most cases but may underestimate extreme levels. Replacing censored data with the detection limit of the microbial tests underestimated the true variability, leading to biased estimates of GM and STV. Maximum likelihood estimation using truncated lognormal distributions is recommended. Twenty samples are not sufficient to characterize the bacteriological quality of irrigation ponds, and a rolling data set of five samples per year used to update GM and STV values results in highly uncertain results and delays in detecting a shift in water quality. In these ponds, E. coli was an adequate predictor of the presence of Salmonella in 150-mL samples, and turbidity was a second significant variable. The variability in levels of E. coli in agricultural water was higher than that anticipated when the PSR was finalized, and more detailed information based on mechanistic modeling is necessary to develop targeted risk management strategies.

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