The FDA Makes New Safety Rules for Raw Produce

The Food and Drug Administration announed new safety rules Friday that will help protect outbreaks of illnesses from raw produce. That means making sure workers are trained to wash their hands, irrigation water is monitored for harmful bacteria and animals do not leave droppings in fields.

The new rules implement the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act.

Jim Gorny, Produce Marketing Association, VP of food safety and technology, said the rules reflect many, but not all, of the amendments PMA and other trade organizations recommended in comments to FDA. The regulatory body said that the finalized rules will help farmers and importers prevent a problem before it can actually occur. The new rules have been praised by food safety advocates and are set to be introduced gradually over the next few years. In 2013, USDA estimated that imported food accounted for about 19 percent of the USA food supply, including about 52 percent of the fresh fruits and 22 percent of the fresh vegetables consumed by Americans. The source of an E. coli outbreak linked to bagged fresh spinach that spread to 20 states, sickening 90 people was identified by the FDA as distributor Natural Selection Foods/Earthbound Farm based in San Juan Bautista, California, according to media reports.

Many outbreaks related to both imported and homegrown produce have been recorded in the United States in recent years.

A store worker removes bags of salad mix containing fresh spinach September 15, 2006 at United Market in San Rafael, California.

In 2011, several dozen died in a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes.

The Food and Drug Administration has haggled over how to write the rules since Congress approved them in 2010. The first rule set for imported food published by the FDA places responsibility on companies importing food products.

The regulations are tailored to cover foods and growing methods that pose the greatest risk.

Fresh produce growth on farms will be more strictly regulated by the FDA. There are also exemptions for smaller farms. There are also standards for keeping equipment and facilities clean.

Sprouts must be protected from any pathogen through thorough testing of spent irrigation water and facilities used for packing, harvesting, and growing. Sandra Eskin, director of food safety at the Pew Charitable Trusts, called the new rules a major public health victory. FDA also describes hazard analysis and supplier verification requirements for importers, as well as the accreditation procedures for third-party auditors. Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff said in congressional testimony this fall that getting those dollars over the next budget year is crucial to ensure the rules work as intended.

Under the new Foreign Supplier Verification rule, food importers will be required to verify that suppliers are producing food that meets USA safety standards.