NC Produce Traceability Seminar hosted on July, 2010

On July 20, 2010, NC Farm Bureau hosted an  intensive 5-hour seminar on Produce Traceability that  included the Produce Traceability Initiative, North Carolina Traceability Benchmark Study and a look at on-the-ground Traceability Pilot programs.  Sponsorship included the NC Blueberry Council, NC Farm Bureau Federation, NC Sweet Potato Commission, NC Vegetable Growers Association in conjunction with the NC Fresh Produce Safety Task Force.

The speaker line up  and the associated PPT are included below:

Dan Vache from United Fresh and Angela Fernandez from GS1

Dr. Benjamin Chapman – Farm To Retail Produce Traceability Benchmark and Pilot Study

Andrew Kennedy – FoodLogiQ
Bob Driggers-Authentitrace
Stacy Spivey from HarvestMark

Association of Food & Drug Officials Model Code for Produce Safety

A good general resource for  understanding the entire flow of produce safety ….

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) developed this Model Code for Produce Safety in response to a growing number of outbreaks associated with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Code represents the culmination of a two- year effort by a number of dedicated organizations and individuals who were asked to develop a science based regulatory framework to address the production of all fruits and vegetables, while maintaining the flexibility to appropriately address specific commodities of higher concern. It builds upon existing guidance documents and regulations; and, consistent with AFDO’s mission to promote uniform food safety laws, rules and regulations, this Model Code for Produce Safety may be viewed as another tool to assist the regulatory community in development of a nationally integrated food safety system.

More information can be found here

http://www.producesafetyproject.org/admin/assets/files/AFDO-Model-Code.pdf

Available Handwashing Resources

Video

• Cornell  GAPs program : Fruits, Vegetables, and Food Safety: Health and Hygiene on the Farm, Worker Training Video (English, Spanish, Hmong, Creole) $20 https://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/store/catalog/index.php?cPath=23
• NCDA & CS Videos: Food Safety after bathroom use.  Video is in Spanish.  (Available Now) http://www.ncagr.gov/fooddrug/espanol/index.htm
• Proper Handwashing and Good Hygiene in the Produce Industry (Available Now)
  Developed by the International Food Safety Network (iFSN) at KSU, this short practical educational video covers the importance of worker hygiene and in particular proper hand washing techniques for produce handlers.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-JxRHwRZUE
• Safer Processing of Fresh-cut Produce. (Available Now) A Food Safety Training Video Developed by the California Department of Public Health. The California Department of Public Health in collaboration with the U.S. FDA, CDC, university researchers, and industry representatives developed this video to assist the fresh-cut produce industry in producing safer products. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8FbM2gLepo
• Video clips on GAPs
  Short video clips explaining GAPs principles, to be used in worker training sessions. http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/videoclips.html
• Mock Third–Party Audit for GAPs Certification Video (Available Now)

http://www.ncmarketready.org/ncfreshproducesafety/mock-third-party-audit-for-GAPs-certification.html

 

Brochure/ Handout

• Wash Your Hands Properly (Available Now)
  Colorful poster with hand-washing instructions. http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/Educationalmaterials/Samples/MagnetEng.pdf
• N.C. DENR Hand-washing Sign (Available Now)
  According to N.C. sanitation rules, legible signs which read that employees must wash their hands before returning to work shall be posted conspicuously in each employees’ toilet room. http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/images/forms/DENR%201026%20English.pdf
• Hand-washing Brochure (Available Now)
  A tri-fold brochure developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health outlines why hand washing is important, when hand washing is recommended and how to effectively wash hands. http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/handwashing/brochure.pdf
• Wash Your Hands! Poster (Available Now)
  A 6-step illustrated guide to proper hand washing, developed by the University of Nebraska.  http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/wash-your-hands.shtml
• N.C. DENR Hand-washing Sign (Available Now)
  According to N.C. sanitation rules, legible signs which read that employees must wash their hands before returning to work shall be posted conspicuously in each employees’ toilet room. http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/images/forms/DENR%201026%20English.pdf
• Worker Hygiene in the Field: Photo Booklet (Available Now)
  This photo booklet from Cornell University demonstrates a dialogue between Latino farm workers about maintaining good hygiene while working and eating in the field. http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/Educationalmaterials/Samples/FieldPhotoNovelSampleEng.pdf
• Hand Hygiene and Hand Sanitizers (Available Now)
  Discusses the importance of hand washing, the most effective methods and the suitability of alcohol-based (no water) hand sanitizers. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy732
• Good Worker Health and Hygiene Practices: Evaluation and Importance in GAPs and GMPs (Available Now)
  Intended for growers to guide and evaluate their hygiene training of employees. Includes sample forms for use on the farm (or in a food safety plan) to keep track of worker trainings, worker toilet facility upkeep. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY74300.pdf
• Hand-washing and Worker Hygiene Poster (Available Now)
  Posters concerning worker hygiene and hand washing techniques.  http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/Educationalmaterials/Samples/Posters.pdf

 

Power Point

• Cornell GAPs: Reducing Microbial Risks During Harvest and Post Harvest (Available Now) Power point addressing reducing microbial risks during harvesting. Information relevant to hand washing can be found on pages 15-17.

EPA Approved Methods for Testing Drinking Water under the Total Coliform Rule

This is one reference for the analytical sampling methods approved by EPA for Drinking water.  This interprate as the methods needed to be used if potable water, dump tank water, etc is to be sampled for total coliform.  I thought this might be a useful tool as we move forward in gathering more information on the methods for anyalysis of water samples

From the publication: Analysis for the following contaminants shall be conducted in accordance with the methods in the following table or their equivalent as determined by
EPA. The methods and monitoring requirements for these contaminants are specified in 40 CFR 141.21. Additional methods are listed in Appendix A to
Subpart C of Part 141.

More on this can be found at: EPA Analytical Methods for Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring under the Total Coliform Rule