Development, Implementation, and Analysis of an On-Farm Food Safety Program for the Production of Greenhouse Vegetables

2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 918-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOUGLAS A. POWELL ◽  
MAURICIO BOBADILLA-RUIZ ◽  
AMANDA WHITFIELD ◽  
MANSEL W. GRIFFITHS ◽  
AMBER LUEDTKE

Fresh fruits and vegetables are increasingly recognized as vectors for foodborne illness. Consequently, an on-farm food safety program was developed, implemented, and analyzed for the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers in Ontario, Canada, during a 2½-year period. This hazard analysis critical control point–based system was designed to reduce the potential of microbial contamination along the entire production and distribution process. Through the use of microbiological testing, on-site visits, and producer surveys, it was determined that the program has increased grower knowledge, understanding, and awareness of microbial risks associated with fresh produce and caused improvements in practices used within the greenhouse and packing sheds.

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMBER N. LUEDTKE ◽  
BENJAMIN CHAPMAN ◽  
DOUGLAS A. POWELL

Fresh fruits and vegetables are increasingly being recognized as vectors for foodborne illness. In 1998, an on-farm food safety program was developed for the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) in Ontario, Canada. This hazard analysis critical control point–based system was designed to reduce the potential of microbial contamination along the entire production and distribution process. A previous report (D. A. Powell, M. Bobadilla-Ruiz, A. Whitfield, M. W. Griffiths, and A. Luedtke, J. Food Prot. 65:918–923) outlined the first 2 years of the program; the present report documents the third year of the program's implementation. Through individual on-site grower visits and the microbiological testing of produce and water, the program's OGVG member requirements were determined, and the program's success was assessed. Growers' knowledge, understanding, and awareness of microbial risks associated with fresh produce have increased, and improvements in practices used in greenhouses and packing sheds were noted.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARY K. MUTH ◽  
MANSOUR FAHIMI ◽  
SHAWN A. KARNS

In the 1996 U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) “Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (PR/HACCP) Systems, Final Rule,” Salmonella was selected for microbiological testing and monitoring. Using data from an FSIS-sponsored survey of meat and poultry slaughter establishments, inspection results, and other establishment characteristics, potential variables affecting pathogen control, as measured by Salmonella test results, were investigated. The analysis data sets included 153 federally inspected young chicken slaughter establishments, of which 111 exceeded half the Salmonella performance standard at least once from 2003 through 2005, and 121 federally inspected pork slaughter establishments, of which 28 exceeded half the Salmonella performance standard. Logistic regression results for young chicken slaughter establishments indicate they were more likely to exceed half the standard if they had higher inspection noncompliance rates (P = 0.10) and older production space (P = 0.10), and were less likely to exceed it if they used a higher percentage of raw poultry inputs purchased from outside sources (P = 0.10). Results for pork slaughter establishments indicate they were more likely to exceed half the standard if they had a higher rate of voluntary microbiological testing (P = 0.08), and were less likely to exceed it if they were larger (P = 0.08) and used a higher percentage of raw pork inputs purchased from outside sources (P = 0.02). In general, indicators of plant characteristics, food safety practices, and management philosophy are associated with different levels of pathogen control performance that vary by species slaughtered.


2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1210-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
CATHERINE L. VIATOR ◽  
SHERYL C. CATES ◽  
SHAWN A. KARNS ◽  
MARY K. MUTH ◽  
GARY NOYES

ABSTRACT We conducted a national census survey of egg product plants (n = 57) to obtain information on the technological and food safety practices of the egg products industry and to assess changes in these practices from 2004 to 2014. The questionnaire asked about operational and sanitation practices, microbiological testing practices, food safety training for employees, other food safety issues, and plant characteristics. The findings suggest that improvements were made in the industry's use of food safety technologies and practices between 2004 and 2014. The percentage of plants using advanced pasteurization technology and an integrated, computerized processing system increased by almost 30 percentage points. Over 90% of plants voluntarily use a written hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plan to address food safety for at least one production step. Further, 90% of plants have management employees who are trained in a written HACCP plan. Most plants (93%) conduct voluntary microbiological testing. The percentage of plants conducting this testing on egg products before pasteurization has increased by almost 30 percentage points since 2004. The survey findings identify strengths and weaknesses in egg product plants' food safety practices and can be used to guide regulatory policymaking and to conduct required regulatory impact analysis of potential regulations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 1632-1640 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOS HADJICHRISTODOULOU ◽  
VARVARA MOUCHTOURI ◽  
THEODOROS VARZAKAS ◽  
IOANNIS ARVANITOYANNIS ◽  
JENNY KREMASTINOU

Standardized inspections of food premises are part of environmental health systems implemented worldwide. The food safety strategy for the 2004 Olympic Games included standardized inspections to ensure uniformity and consistency of procedures and effective electronic management of data. Inspections were carried out by 196 inspectors in the five Olympic cities: Athens, Thessalonica, Volos, Iraklio, and Patra. From January 2003 to September 2004, a total of 1,249 food premises were inspected. An unsatisfactory inspection result (C grade) was received by 347 (27.8%) food premises, a relatively satisfactory result (B grade) was received by 332 (26.6%), and a satisfactory result (A grade) was received by 570 (45.6%). About 16% of inspected premises did not hold a valid permit. Unsatisfactory inspection results were more frequent for premises located in the two largest Greek cities in comparison with the other smaller cities (relative risk = 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36 to 2.80). Based on logistic regression analysis, unsatisfactory inspection results were positively associated with food premises that were not located on a ground floor (odds ratio [OR] = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.39 to 4.73) and negatively associated with application of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) principles (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.71). Food hygiene education through formal training programs should be encouraged to improve compliance of food premises. Food premises located on hotel floors and serving buffet meals are at higher risk for unsatisfactory conditions. Businesses that implemented a HACCP system within their operations to ensure food safety operated under more hygienic conditions. Future inspections by Public Health Authorities should involve elements of audit after the legislation for the application of HACCP principles.


Author(s):  
Mayra Díaz Ramírez ◽  
José Mariano García Garibay ◽  
Judith Jiménez Guzmán ◽  
Adriana Villanueva Carbajal

ResumenLa variabilidad de los alimentos tradicionales producidos de manera artesanal es admisible, pero su inocuidad debe garantizarse. La ejecución de Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM) es fundamental para la construcción de sistemas de gestión de la inocuidad como el Análisis de Riesgos y Puntos Críticos de Control (HACCP) e ISO-22000-Food Safety Management System. El cumplimiento de este tipo de prácticas en la producción de alimentos tradicionales en México es escaso. Tomando al queso de Poro, como ejemplo de este tipo de alimentos, el presente documento describe las condiciones y controles de su proceso de producción. Ello como el primer paso para documentar la factibilidad de implementar sistemas de gestión de la inocuidad. Esto es dado que la legislación en México permite la comercialización de este tipo de quesos si su producción cumple con controles basados en BPM.AbstractThe variability of hand-made traditional food products is admissible, but food safety must be guaranteed. The accomplishment of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is essential to implement food safety management systems as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and the ISO-22000-Food Safety Management System. The fulfillment of these practices in the manufacture of traditional food products in Mexico is limited so, taking Poro cheese as an example of this kind of food products, the present document is intended to describe Poro cheese’s production controls and conditions as the first step to evaluate the feasibility to implement a food safety management system, since Mexico’s regulation allows the commercialization of these kind of cheeses if their production process complies with GMP.


Author(s):  
Rajneesh Mahajan ◽  
Suresh Garg ◽  
P. B. Sharma

The modern food safety management comprises of ISO 22000:2005. It has modified the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) by embedding food safety management. It has created a standardized management system. The objective of current chapter is to endow a systematic approach for the ground level implementation of ISO 22000 in Indian pure curd supply chain management. The chapter is prepared utilizing combination of qualitative research and case study method. A case of Milsh Dairy Ltd. (MDL, organisation's name is disguised) was discussed to shed light on ISO 22000 features, comparative analysis between HACCP and ISO 22000. The research is limited to professional pure curd manufacturing sector. Authors have adopted the research methodology which can be applied to other sectors also.


1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 1075-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  

One of the components of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement that will have far-reaching effects on International trade in foods and food products is the requirement for countries to provide risk assessments as part of the process of resolving disputes that involve food safety issues. Risk assessment is a means of evaluating the likelihood and impact of hazards. It provides a framework for systematically considering available data, providing rationales for assumptions, and identifying areas where additional information is needed. While the application of quantitative risk assessment techniques to microbial food safety has been limited, recent studies have increasingly demonstrated its feasibility. Quantitative risk assessment is particularly well suited for use with the hazard analysis critical control point and appears to have potential as an approach for comparing the equivalence of international food safety programs and inspection systems.


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