What's old is new again

The FDA's notice about its intent to update 10-year old Good Agricultural Practices is found here. There is a lot to cover in that document so I may take it by sections. Meanwhile, let's reflect on what Packer legend Larry Waterfield wrote in the paper 11 years ago when the first round of GAPs was being readied. Deja vu all over again...





From November 1997.....

Ideas cover broad range FDA proposals could lead to more control over produce industry.
By Larry Waterfield
Washington, D.C., Editor
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The federal government's forthcoming voluntary guidelines for the produce industry will touch every aspect from the field to the receiver and could mean more stringent controls on imported produce and even so-called ``traceback'' mechanisms.
The aim of federal agencies, led by the Food & Drug Administration, is to have draft proposals ready by Dec. 1, with proposed guidelines prepared by late January and final guidelines in place by June.
FDA officials plan to put guidelines in place in 1998 for high-risk fruits and vegetables, which have yet to be named.
At a meeting Nov. 17, which involved federal agencies, a government panel on microbes in food and produce industry representatives, the agency officials pointed out that the guidelines, which are being referred to as ``the Guide,'' will be voluntary. But several industry officials said receivers and retailers are likely to latch onto the guidelines and require suppliers to follow the government guidance.
The next move in the process will be a series of seven public meetings across the country to get input from the produce industry. One meeting will deal with international produce safety issues. Those meetings begin Dec. 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Those attending the Nov. 17 meeting got a preview of what may be in the proposed guidelines. They will deal with water quality, irrigation water, the use of manure in production, field sanitation, packinghouse sanitation, storage, cooling, refrigeration, handling, bins and packaging, packing lines, worker sanitation and transportation. The guidelines will be in the form of Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices, referred to as ``GAPs and GMPs.''
The agencies are considering calling for anyone who handles produce from the field through the distribution system to wear disposable gloves. Guidelines may call on producers to make special efforts to divert deer and other wildlife from fields and orchards.
Companies may be asked to implement personal hygiene training programs for workers at all levels.
Methods to trace produce back to its source are likely to be a part of the guidelines as a way to limit any outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.
``These proposals represent our current thinking,'' said Thomas Gardine, director of the FDA's division of imports and a key official implementing the President's Produce Safety Initiative.
At the industry-government meeting the scope of the initiative began to emerge. Several Cabinet departments, 12 federal agencies and thousands of inspectors and government workers will be involved at the federal and state levels. The USDA will involve about 6,000 of its Extension Service personnel, plus researchers. A representative of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture said the states have several thousand employees who are ready to take part.
On imported produce, officials are calling for more border surveillance and screening. The bill, the Safety of Imported Food Act of 1997, gives the FDA the authority to make sure foreign food safety systems match those in the United States, and it gives the agency power to block imports if inspectors are denied access to foreign facilities.
``There is no evidence that imported fruits and vegetables are more likely to be contaminated than domestic produce,'' said Lee Frankel, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Nogales, Ariz., which represents importers of Mexican produce.
He warned that U.S. safety inititatives must treat imported produce fairly and equally and that the rules or guidelines must be in accord with international trade agreements under the World Trade Organization and must not interfere with U.S. trade obligations.
He cautioned officials not to make ``prejudicial statements'' that imply that foreign produce is not safe to eat when traveling in those countries and that indicate the imports may not be safe.
He said ``these officials show lack of knowledge and understanding of the farming, harvesting, packing and shipping processes.''
He said he is concerned that the ``guidance'' will focus on imports and will allow U.S. inspectors to block imports but will not treat U.S. produce the same under ``voluntary'' guidelines.
He urged the officials to hold a fact-finding meeting in Mexico or on the border and to come to Mexico to see practices.
Stacey Zawel, director of science and regulatory affairs at the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Alexandria, Va., urged the government to recognize that produce is unlike other food industries and is made up of many diverse industries.
She pointed out that there are many gaps in the knowledge about microbial contamination of produce. She said the Industrywide Guidance, developed by 20 produce groups, focuses on the most critical microbial issues.
``A failure to bring focus to the microbiological food safety issues will squander scarce resources and dilute the effectiveness of our efforts,'' she said.
Fred Shank, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said there are funds available under the President's Initiative to carry out research into microbial contamination of produce.
Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which she said represents more than a million U.S. and Canadian consumers, called for mandatory HACCP rules for the produce industry.
``CSPI urges the Clinton administration to mandate HACCP systems for the produce industry rather than guidelines,'' she said. ``Guidelines will not address the problems of the domestic industry, and they will be unenforceable internationally.''
She said the goal must be to ``identify and eliminate the sources of contamination for fruits and vegetables.''