The safety of fresh produce has been questioned during the past two decades based on increasing numbers of foodborne illness outbreaks. The importance of produce safety was punctuated in 2011 by historic outbreaks associated with fresh sprouts and cantaloupe, resulting in 1,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of illness and more than 70 deaths. Beyond problems associated with foodborne illnesses, each outbreak traced to fresh fruits and vegetables results in significant profit losses to the industry. Research studies have attempted to mitigate these problems by examining the behavior of foodborne pathogens within leafy greens and other fresh produce, identifying/eliminating point source contamination, and by determining the efficacy of decontamination treatments. These mitigations have been considered in the development and application of good agricultural practices and best management practices (GAPs and BMPs). The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) will tie many of these areas together; impacting the way fresh produce is grown, processed and handled. This symposium will provide an overview of current issues regarding the microbiological safety of fresh produce.

Presentations