Lettuce Safety Initiative to Include Inspections in Salinas

The FDA announced Aug. 24 that it would begin inspecting lettuce operations in California’s Salinas Valley. Beginning Monday, Aug. 28, FDA and the California departments of health services and food and agriculture will make announced visits to lettuce-growing operations and packing and processing facilities.

The visits are part of the Lettuce Safety Initiative developed by the FDA to proactively combat E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks, rather than track produce after an incident. According to the FDA, the initiative will coincide with the start of the fall lettuce harvest and will support the 2004 FDA Produce Safety Action Plan.

The FDA identified four key goals in the Lettuce Safety Initiative on Aug. 23:

1. “Assess current industry approaches and actions to address the issue of improving lettuce safety. If appropriate, stimulate segments of the industry to further advance efforts in addressing all aspects of improving lettuce safety.”

2. “Alert consumers early and respond rapidly in the event of an outbreak.”

3. “Document observations that identify practices that potentially lead to product contamination. Then, develop and/or refine guidance and policy that will minimize opportunities for future outbreaks and/or identify research needs.”

4. “Consider regulatory action, as appropriate, based on conditions and practices that could lead to, or spread contamination, or when lettuce has been adulterated.”

The inspections are not intended to be punitive or enforcement-focused in nature, but if regulators find violations they will take action. The initiative inspections also do not replace the annual inspections conducted by the FDA and the state. The investigation teams will be comprised of three investigators, one each from the FDA, the California Department of Health Services and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The initiative is an example of the produce industry and regulators working collaboratively to achieve the goal of zero illnesses from produce, said Jim Gorny, senior vice president of food safety and technology for United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. United, Western Growers Association and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California all took part in the discussion with industry members and state and federal officials.

The industry welcomed the initiative because “it helps separate the wheat from the chaff,” Gorny said. For many who already follow Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Processes, the inspections are a reminder of the need for food safety and a chance to show off the measures that are already in place.

“People want to get credit for what they’re doing,” he said.

The announcement came at the end of weeklong meetings among growers, regulators and industry representatives. FDA and state officials toured local farms and processing facilities and took part in a discussion organized by the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security at the University of California, Davis. Gorny said growers also were invited last week to attend a dinner so that any questions they had could be answered.