FDA Fresh-Cut Guidance

PMA provides the link to the FDA's final guidance for fresh cut fruits and vegetables. A report from PMA indicates that the Feb. 25 Federal Register will contain the final guidance on "Minimizing Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables. Here is a mouthful, from the FDA document:

This guidance covers fresh-cut fruits and vegetables that have been minimally processed (e.g., no lethal kill step), and altered in form, by peeling, slicing, chopping, shredding, coring, or trimming, with or without washing or other treatment, prior to being packaged for use by the consumer or a retail establishment. Examples of fresh-cut products are shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, salad mixes (raw vegetable salads), peeled baby carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, cut celery stalks, shredded cabbage, cut melon, sliced pineapple, and sectioned grapefruit.⁽²⁾ Fresh-cut produce does not require additional preparation, processing, or cooking before consumption, with the possible exception of washing⁽³⁾ or the addition of salad dressing, seasoning, or other accompaniments. As the fresh-cut produce market continues to evolve, the scope of this guidance may need to be modified to address new or novel types of products.