The impact of preharvest practices on the microbial safety of produce the US experience IAFP Latin A

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The impact of pre-harvest practices on the
microbial safety of producethe US
experienceIAFP Latin America Symposium on Food
SafetyCampinas, SP, BrazilMay 26, 2008

• Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D.
• Senior Vice President and
• Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Officer
• Grocery Manufacturers Association

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Outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with
fresh produce are becoming more apparent.
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Outbreaks

• Seen an increase in the number of reported
  outbreaks of foodborne illnesses from fresh
  produce
• E. coli O157H7 outbreaks
• From spinach 204 cases in 26 States
• From lettuce at Taco Johns 81 cases in 3
  States
• From lettuce at Taco Bell 71 cases in 5 States

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Outbreaks

• Seen an increase in the number of reported
  outbreaks of foodborne illnesses from fresh
  produce
• E. coli O157H7 outbreaks
• Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak from tomatoes
• 186 cases in 21 States

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Outbreaks

• Seen an increase in the number of reported
  outbreaks of foodborne illnesses from fresh
  produce
• E. coli O157H7 outbreaks
• Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak from tomatoes
• Salmonella Newport from tomatoes
• 98 cases 19 States

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Recent Outbreaks

• Seen an increase in the number of reported
  outbreaks of foodborne illnesses from fresh
  produce
• There are several possible explanations for the
  apparent increase
• Better and more rapid detection of outbreaks
• Increase in sale of fresh-cut produce
• Globalization of the produce supply
• Increase in the numbers of consumers at high risk
  for foodborne illnesses

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Increase in Outbreaks

• Data reported to CDC indicate that between 1973
  and 1997 reported outbreaks associated with fresh
  produce increased.
• From 0.7 in the 1970s to 6 of all outbreaks in
  the 1990s.

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Average annual number of produce-associated
outbreaks by decade, USA,1973-2002
Outbreaks/year

Decade
Preliminary data
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Increase in Outbreaks

• Data reported to CDC indicate that between 1973
  and 1997 reported outbreaks associated with fresh
  produce increased.
• Unpublished data compiled by FDA indicate that
  from 1996 to 2006 there were approximately 71
  reported outbreaks associated with fresh produce.

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Vehicle Categories 1996 - 2006
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Opportunities for Contamination

• Before and During Harvest

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Contamination Opportunities

• Animal Management Issues

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Animal Management

• Wild animals in the field
• Domestic animals in the field
• Animal manure in the field

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Contamination Opportunities

• Animal Management Issues
• Processing/Packing Operations

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Processing and Packing Operations

• Unsanitary conditions
• Produce not cleaned
• Packing in the field
• Vermin

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Contamination Opportunities

• Animal Management Issues
• Processing/Packing Operations
• Worker Health/Hygiene

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Work Health and Hygiene

• Inadequate handwashing
• Inadequate hygiene training
• Unsanitary worker facilities
• Unexplained worker absences
• Community illnesses

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Contamination Opportunities

• Animal Management Issues
• Processing/Packing Operations
• Worker Health/Hygiene
• Harvest Tools/Equipment

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Harvest Tools and Equipment

• Bare hand or unknown glove use
• Cross contamination issues
• Non-sanitized tools
• Non-cleanable tools

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Contamination Opportunities

• Animal Management Issues
• Processing/Packing Operations
• Worker Health/Hygiene
• Harvest Tools/Equipment
• Water Issues

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Water Issues

• Inadequate chlorination
• Hydrocooler Issues
• Storage tank issues
• Ice issues
• Cross connection issues

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E. coli O157H7 Outbreak Associated with
Pre-Packaged Spinach Findings
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Findings Related to Growing

• E. coli O157H7 found in environmental samples
  collected near the fields that provided the
  spinach
• River water
• Cattle feces
• Wild pig feces

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Investigation Findings Related to Growing

• E. coli O157H7 found in environmental samples
  collected near the fields that provided the
  spinach
• Ready-to-eat crops are being grown in close
  proximity to livestock or livestock waste

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Investigation Findings Related to Growing

• E. coli O157H7 found in environmental samples
  collected near the fields that provided the
  spinach
• Ready-to-eat crops are being grown in close
  proximity to livestock or livestock waste
• Evidence of wildlife activity in proximity to
  fields where ready-to-eat crops are grown
• Riparian habitats

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Investigation Findings Related to Growing

• E. coli O157H7 found in environmental samples
  collected near the fields that provided the
  spinach
• Ready-to-eat crops are being grown in close
  proximity to livestock or livestock waste
• Evidence of wildlife activity in proximity to
  fields where ready-to-eat crops are grown
• Irrigation wells used for ready-to-eat produce
  exposed to feces from cattle and wildlife via
  surface waterways

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Other Investigation Findings

• E. coli O157H7 was not found in the samples
  taken from the processor.

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Other Investigation Findings

• E. coli O157H7 was not found in the samples
  taken from the processor.
• Number of other conditions observed that may
  provide opportunities for spread of pathogens, if
  pathogens arrived on incoming products.
• Harvesting
• Cooling
• Processing

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E. coli O157H7 in the Salinas Valley Watershed
Study

• January 2005 August 2006

Robert E. Mandrell, Ph.D.Research Leader,
Produce Safety and Microbiology Research
UnitUSDA, Agricultural Research Service, Western
Regional Research Center
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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• Prompted by identification of a farm that
  supplied leafy vegetables associated with 3
  separate outbreaks

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• Prompted by identification of a farm that
  supplied leafy vegetables associated with 3
  separate outbreaks
• Farm investigation soil, water, plants, feces
  tested

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• Prompted by identification of a farm that
  supplied leafy vegetables associated with 3
  separate outbreaks
• Farm investigation soil, water, plants, feces
  tested
• E. coli O157H7 isolated from samples obtained
  from 15 of 22 different Salinas Valley
  (California) watershed locations
• Highest incidence occurred after heavy rainfall

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• E. coli strains representing at least 203
  different genetic fingerprint types (MLVA) were
  identified for all isolates tested

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• E. coli strains representing at least 203
  different genetic fingerprint types (MLVA) were
  identified for all isolates tested
• Sets of strains with identical MLVA types were
  isolated from watershed samples up to eight
  months apart, and samples collected at, near, and
  up to 20 miles away from, a point source on same
  and different days

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• E. coli strains representing at least 203
  different genetic fingerprint types (MLVA) were
  identified for all isolates tested
• Sets of strains with identical MLVA types were
  isolated from watershed samples up to eight
  months apart, and samples collected at, near, and
  up to 20 miles away from, a point source on same
  and different days
• Strains with nearly identical MLVA types were
  isolated from 3 farm/ranches separated
  approximately 18 to 45 miles apart

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• Results from the Salinas watershed study and the
  spinach outbreak investigation indicate that E.
  coli O157 was isolated more frequently from
  samples obtained near or on grazing land compared
  to other locations

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Salinas Valley Watershed Study

• Results from the Salinas watershed study and the
  spinach outbreak investigation indicate that E.
  coli O157 was isolated more frequently from
  samples obtained near or on grazing land compared
  to other locations
• Results are consistent with the frequent
  incidence of E. coli O157 reported in numerous
  surveys of incidence in cattle in other locations
  of the country and incidence in water

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Time for a More Holistic View

• Balancing Agriculture, Food Safety, and
  Environmental Concerns

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Potential Conflict with Environmental and
Wildlife Preservation Efforts

• Concern about the potential conflict between food
  safety, environmental and wildlife preservation
  efforts

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Potential Effect of Food Safety Practices

• Concerns about the effects of food safety
  practices on water quality
• Riparian buffers, grassed waterways, filter
  strips and other forms of non-crop vegetation are
  critical conservation measures for reduction of
  sedimentation and filtering of other pollutants

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Potential Effect of Food Safety Practices

• Concerns about the effects of food safety
  practices on habitats
• Riparian vegetation provides important substrates
  for aquatic invertebrates, cover for predator
  avoidance, and resting habitats
• Removal of non-crop vegetation may increase
  sedimentation and lead to habitat degradation
• Increased suspended solids from runoff have
  damaging physical and biological effects

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Where Do We Go From Here?

• Working Together with the Agricultural and
  Environmental Communities To Find Solutions

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We Are In This Together

• Must work TOGETHER to solve the problem instead
  of each of us solving our piece of the problem

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• We know cattle are a principal source of E. coli
  because the organism lives in the intestines of
  healthy cattle

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• We know cattle are a principal source of E. coli
  because the organism lives in the intestines of
  healthy cattle
• We know cattle manure is an important source of
  E. coli infection and can contaminate the
  environment, including streams that flow through
  produce fields and are used for irrigation,
  pesticide application, or washing

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• Need to identify and better understand the
  stumbling blocks so that we can work together
  to develop and implement solutions

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• Need to identify and better understand the
  stumbling blocks so that we can work together
  to develop and implement solutions
• Are vertebrate populations sources of E. coli
  O157H7 contamination of watersheds?

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• Need to identify and better understand the
  stumbling blocks so that we can work together
  to develop and implement solutions
• Are vertebrate populations sources of E. coli
  O157H7 contamination of watersheds?
• Do climate, landscape attributes and irrigation
  management practices correlate with an increased
  risk of contamination?

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• Need to identify and better understand the
  stumbling blocks so that we can work together
  to develop and implement solutions
• Are vertebrate populations sources of E. coli
  O157H7 contamination of watersheds?
• Do climate, landscape attributes and irrigation
  management practices correlate with an increased
  risk of contamination?
• Is in-field contamination associated with
  management production practices and environmental
  risk factors?

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Best Practices

• Need to better understand the dynamics of
  agriculture, food safety practices, and the
  environment
• Need to identify and better understand the
  stumbling blocks so that we can work together
  to develop and implement solutions
• Use of guidance to identify the best practices
  and solutions

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Next Steps

• Future Strategies and Activities for Produce
  Safety

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A closer examination of the measures and their
effectiveness and determination of what
additional or different interventions might be
appropriate.
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Potential Interventions

• Identify risk factors for contamination of fresh
  produce associated with agricultural and
  manufacturing practices

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Potential Interventions

• Identify risk factors for contamination of fresh
  produce associated with agricultural and
  manufacturing practices
• Leafy Green Safety Initiative

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Leafy Green Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2006, between
  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and State
  of Californias Departments of Public Health and
  Food and Agriculture

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Leafy Green Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2006, between
  FDA and State of Californias Departments of
  Public Health and Food and Agriculture
• Part of a risk-based strategy intended to reduce
  public health risks by heightening the focus of
  preventative food safety efforts on specific
  products, practices, pathogens, and growing areas
  of concern

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Leafy Green Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2006, between
  FDA and State of Californias Departments of
  Public Health and Food and Agriculture
• Part of a risk-based strategy intended to reduce
  public health risks by heightening the focus of
  preventative food safety efforts on specific
  products, practices, pathogens, and growing areas
  of concern
• In 2007, FDA, State of California Departments of
  Public Health and Food and Agriculture, with the
  cooperation of industry began visiting farms
• to assess the prevalence of factors in and near
  the field environment which may contribute to
  potential contamination

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Leafy Green Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2006, between
  FDA and State of Californias Departments of
  Public Health and Food and Agriculture
• Part of a risk-based strategy intended to reduce
  public health risks by heightening the focus of
  preventative food safety efforts on specific
  products, practices, pathogens, and growing areas
  of concern
• In 2007, FDA, State of California Departments of
  Public Health and Food and Agriculture, with the
  cooperation of industry began visiting farms
• to assess the prevalence of factors in and near
  the field environment which may contribute to
  potential contamination
• to assess the extent to which Good Agricultural
  Practices (GAPs) and other preventative controls
  are being implemented

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Potential Interventions

• Identify risk factors for contamination of fresh
  produce associated with agricultural and
  manufacturing practices
• Leafy Green Safety Initiative
• Tomato Safety Initiative

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2007, between
  FDA and state health and agriculture departments
  in Virginia and Florida, in cooperation with
  several universities and members of the produce
  industry

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Collaborative effort, initiated in 2007, between
  FDA and state health and agriculture departments
  in Virginia and Florida, in cooperation with
  several universities and members of the produce
  industry
• Part of a risk-based strategy to reduce foodborne
  illness by focusing efforts on specific products,
  practices, and growing areas found to be
  problematic in the past

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including
• Irrigation water

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including
• Irrigation water
• Wells

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including
• Irrigation water
• Wells
• Procedures for mixing chemicals

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including
• Irrigation water
• Wells
• Procedures for mixing chemicals
• Drought and flooding events

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Tomato Safety Initiative

• Virginia based tomato farms and packing
  facilities were visited
• To assess food safety practices
• To assess what degree Good Agricultural Practices
  (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
  are implemented
• To assess a variety of environmental factors
  including
• Irrigation water
• Wells
• Procedures for mixing chemicals
• Drought and flooding events
• Animal proximity to growing fields

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Potential Interventions

• Identify risk factors for contamination of fresh
  produce associated with agricultural and
  manufacturing practices
• Identify possible measures to improve safety

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Potential Interventions

• Identify risk factors for contamination of fresh
  produce associated with agricultural and
  manufacturing practices
• Identify possible measures to improve safety
• Develop additional guidance
• Refine Good Agricultural Practices
• Commodity and/or Region Specific

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Summary

• Fruit and vegetables are major components of a
  healthy diet, but eating fresh uncooked produce
  is not risk free.

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Summary

• Fruit and vegetables are major components of a
  healthy diet, but eating fresh uncooked produce
  is not risk free.
• Greater application and implementation of good
  agricultural practices and good manufacturing
  practices are key to minimizing the microbial
  hazards and associated risks.

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Summary

• Fruit and vegetables are major components of a
  healthy diet, but eating fresh uncooked produce
  is not risk free.
• Greater application and implementation of good
  agricultural practices and good manufacturing
  practices are key to minimizing the microbial
  hazards and associated risks.
• Solutions must balance agricultural, food safety,
  and environmental needs.

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Summary

• Fruit and vegetables are major components of a
  healthy diet, but eating fresh uncooked produce
  is not risk free.
• Greater application and implementation of good
  agricultural practices and good manufacturing
  practices are key to minimizing the microbial
  hazards and associated risks.
• Solutions must balance agricultural, food safety,
  and environmental needs.
• Increasing scientific knowledge and understanding
  of the risk factors are key to development and
  implementation of effective risk management
  strategies.

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Summary

• Fruit and vegetables are major components of a
  healthy diet, but eating fresh uncooked produce
  is not risk free.
• Greater application and implementation of good
  agricultural practices and good manufacturing
  practices are key to minimizing the microbial
  hazards and associated risks.
• Solutions must balance agricultural, food safety,
  and environmental needs.
• Increasing scientific knowledge and understanding
  of the risk factors are key to development and
  implementation of effective risk management
  strategies.
• Success in improving the safety of fresh produce
  requires collaboration and cooperation.