Ready to eat good to go

Readers...see the note in the comments from one of the authors of the study that clarifies my use of the term "triple washed" and other points.



Triple washed leafy greens are probably as good as they can get, says a scientific paper that concludes the risk of cross contamination when washing "ready to eat" salads negates any benefit from additional washings.Here is the report from the UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center called "Recommendations for Handling Fresh-cut Leafy Green Salads by Consumers and Retail Foodservice Operators." From the report's summary:

A panel of scientists with expertise in microbial safety of fresh produce was convened to review recent research and re-evaluate guidelines for foodservice and restaurant operators, regulatory agencies with oversight over food facilities, and consumers for handling prewashed bagged salads. The guidelines developed by the panel, together with materials reviewed by the panel to develop the guidelines, are presented. The background materials reviewed include published research and recent recommendations made by other authoritative sources. The panel concluded that leafy green salad in sealed bags labeled "washed" or "ready-to-eat" that are produced in a facility inspected by a regulatory authority and operated under cGMPs, does not need additional washing at the time of use unless specifically directed on the label. The panel also advised that additional washing of ready-to-eat green salads is not likely to enhance safety. The risk of cross contamination from food handlers and food contact surfaces used during washing may outweigh any safety benefit that further washing may confer.



Also, from the November newsletter from UC Davis Postharvest Technology R&I Center:

UCD Researchers Working to Control Light Brown Apple Moth's Threat to Produce ExportsDr. Beth Mitcham recently received approval from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to establish a colony of Light Brown Apple Moth at the UC Davis Contained Research Facility, thus paving the way for potential research on development of effective postharvest control strategies for this pest on harvested raw agricultural commodities and avoid potential disruption to interstate and international trade of California produce. The Light Brown Apple Moth is an invasive pest that has now been detected in eleven California Counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Solano) and there is concern that this pest could become established in other California growing regions and disrupt shipments of California grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Dr. Mitcham's research program focuses on finding alternatives to chemical treatments to control physiological disorders, decay and insects in numerous tree crops. For more information contact Dr. Beth Mitcham at: ejmitcham@ucdavis.edu

Fresh-cut Produce Short Course Offered in Spain An European short course focused on "Quality and Innovation of Fresh-cut Produce" is being offered in Cordoba, Spain on March 10-12, 2008. The short course focuses on important aspects relevant in the production, processing, packaging and quality assurance of fresh-cut products. Enrollment is requested by January 25, 2008 and detailed information about the short course may be found at: www.uco.es/fresh-cut. Dr. Jim Gorny and Dr. Trevor Suslow from U.C. Davis will be participating in the short course. The short course is organized and sponsored by the International Curriculum of Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops (ICPT), which is a collaborative program among the University of California Davis (USA), University of Cordoba (Spain), University of Florida (USA), University of Foggia (Italy), Texas A&M University (USA), and University of Thessaly (Greece). The ICPT was developed to increase the professional skills of graduate students studying postharvest biology and technology at participating institutions. More information about the ICPT program may be found at: http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/icpt/index.shtml

National Mango Boards Taps UCD Researchers To Enhance Consumer’s Mango Experience UCD Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center members Dr. Adel Kader, Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham and Dr. Mary Lu Arpaia are collaborating with colleagues Jeff Brecht and Steve Sargent from the University of Florida and other colleagues from institutions in several Central and South American countries on an important mango quality research and analysis program sponsored by the recently formed National Mango Board. This project is designed to evaluate the entire mango supply chain from production through postharvest handling and quarantine treatment, transportation and distribution stages to the retail market. Understanding and documenting mango supply chain opportunities for handling improvement is a first step for the National Mango Board in its drive to inform the entire supply chain regarding proper handling techniques and improve the mango eating experience for consumers. More information about this project may be found at the National Mango Board website at: http://www.mango.org or by contacting Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham at ejmitcham@ucdavis.edu.

New Center for Fruit & Vegetable Quality Center Launched at UCD Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center members Dr. Christine Bruhn, Dr. Roberta Cook, Dr. Adel Kader, Dr. Jim Gorny, Dr. Jim Thompson, Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham and Dr. Diane Barrett participated in a special one day symposium entitled Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: Is It a Matter of Taste?; which marked the inauguration of the new UCD Center for Fruit and Vegetable Quality (CFVQ) on campus. The symposium attracted more than 70 participants from the food industry, academia, and government to commence discussions regarding means of promoting science-based information and technology that increases consumption of fruits and vegetables to enhance human health. The new CFVQ led by Dr. Diane Barrett is comprised of over thirty multi-disciplinary faculty including those with expertise in Postharvest Biology and Technology and the CFVQ is already working closely and collaboratively with the Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center. Another major goal of the new CFVQ is to enhance collaborative industry/UCD research interactions and as such has established a CFVQ Corporate Affiliates Partnership Membership Program. More information about the CFVQ may be found at: http://fruitvegquality.ucdavis.edu or by contacting: Dr. Diane Barrett (Director, Center for Fruit & Vegetable Quality at UCD), Tel: 530.752.4800 or dmbarrett@ucdavis.edu.

Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center Collaborates with New UCD Center for Produce Food Safety
Dr. Jim Gorny, Dr. Trevor Suslow and Dr. Linda Harris were recently appointed as advisory board members to the new Center for Produce Safety (CPS) at UC Davis. On November 1st the CPS advisory board convened in Davis under the leadership of Dr. Devon Zagory, Interim Executive Director of the CPS, to discuss the Center’s strategies for addressing key food safety issues facing the fresh produce industry. The center was established earlier this year to work with the agricultural and food industries, government regulatory agencies, trade associations, research institutions, and consumer groups to enhance the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables through research, education, and information exchange. For more information about the UCD Center for Produce Safety contact: Dr. Devon Zagory, Interim Executive Director, Tel: 530.757.5777 or devon.zagory@cps.ucdavis.edu.