To improve sprout safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a number of requirements for commercial sprout growers in the proposed Produce Rule. The impact of these proposed requirements on sprout growers, large or small, remains to be determined. The FDA, cooperating with the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (IIT IFSH), has created the Sprouts Safety Alliance (SSA) to help sprout producers in identifying and implementing best practices in the safe production of sprouts. The Alliance, composed of members representing sprout producers, federal and local government officials and academia, is developing a core curriculum and training programs for stakeholders in the sprout production community to promote adoption of current best practices now and to assist sprout growers in complying with the FDA’s Produce Rule, when final. In this symposium, a review of the FDA’s proposed produce safety rule will be given as it relates to the sprout producers. Educational information on cleaning, sanitation and irrigation water testing developed by the Alliance will be discussed as it relates to sprout growers. Commercial sprout growers will give their perspective as how the Produce Rule will affect them.

Presentations