In a February letter to the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Food Safety Director Beth Oleson, the FDA announced its intent to "initiate inspections with a sampling component at the subset of the cantaloupe packing houses" across the United States during the 2013 growing season. FDA sent the same letter to similar produce organizations, including the newly formed Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association.
According to the letter, this action comes as a response to repeated bacteria outbreaks in cantaloupes that originate in the packinghouse. FDA also said they intend to focus sampling on imported cantaloupes and "may engage in other surveillance and inspection activities" as circumstances warrant such action.
"The FDA is sending a strong message to the cantaloupe industry with this letter," Oleson said.
According to Oleson, after the 2012 outbreak linked to Chamberlain Farms, GFVGA's cantaloupe producers took a proactive approach by coming together to review current guidance and practices in eastern cantaloupes.
"Many of GFVGA's cantaloupe producers had already begun to implement risk assessments in their farm and packing operations in an effort to minimize potential contamination," she said. "They have committed to the highest food safety standards in the industry."
The letter urged the cantaloupe industry to review its current operation alongside the recently released "Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards for Fruits and Vegetables" and the draft guidance titled Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food SafetyHazards of Melons. Together, these documents recommend both good agricultural practices (GAPs) and current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) that growers, harvesters, sorters, packers and processers should adhere to in order to address common risks among their operations.
The recently released commodity specific national guidelines for cantaloupes and netted melons can be found and downloaded at no charge at www.cantaloupe-guidance.org. The FDA commended members of the cantaloupe industry for their initiative and responsibility to highest standards of food safety for the best interest of consumers.
For more information about current food safety programs and on-farm practices, contact Beth Oleson at 706-845-8200.
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is a 501(c)5 membership organization dedicated to education, promotion, and support of the southeastern produce industry. GFVGA is managed by Association Services Group, an AMCI accredited association management company located in Lagrange, GA.
Source: Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
