Proposed Produce Safety Rule

On January 4 the FDA released its proposed produce safety rule, the foundation of which is to establish a science-based minimum standard for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce on farms. It looks specifically at how ag water is used; how animal based soil amendments may contain pathogens; personal health and hygiene issues; how domestic and wild animals may introduce pathogens; and setting standards for equipment, tools, and buildings used in produce operations. The FDA is including all tree fruit and nuts under the rule. Tree fruit producers argue that theirs is not a “high risk produce due to the fact that tree fruit production is significantly above ground level”, and because there have been no documented cases of food borne pathogen outbreaks involving tree fruit. The FDA has a 120 day public comment period before the agency begins final development of the rule. Needless to say, representatives of the tree fruit industry have certainly been weighing in during this comment period. If the new rule is approved, it will have significant implications up and down the food supply chain, as the final cost of implementing the rule, and how it would be paid for is yet to be determined.