Food Safety Basics

1. Food Safety and Strawberries Trevor Phister, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Food Science [email_address]

5. Number of Produce Associated Outbreaks by Decade, 1973 - 1997 3.7 6.5 10.5 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 1973-79 1980-89 1990-97 Decade Outbreaks / year

7. Harmful Microorganisms & Outbreaks Associated with Produce l f a s p r o u t s , r o o t v e g e t a b l e s , d r i e d s e a w e e d L m o n o c y t o g e n e s C a b b a g e B . c e r e u s S p r o u t s H e p a t i t i s A v i r u s I c e b e r g l e t t u c e , r a s p b e r r i e s , s t r a w b e r r i e s C r y p t o s p o r i d i u m A p p l e c i d e r C y c l o s p o r a R a s p b e r r i e s P a t h o g e n P r o d u c e E . c o l i O 1 5 7 : H 7 I c e b e r g l e t t u c e , r a d i s h s p r o u t s , u n p a s t e u r i z e d a p p l e c i d e r / j u i c e S a l m o n e l l a s p p . T o m a t o e s , b e a n s p r o u t s , s l i c e d w a t e r m e l o n , s l i c e d c a n t a l o u p e , c o l e s l a w & o n i o n s , a l f a

9. The Problem Charles Dharapak/Associated Press

11. What can we do?

12. Taken up through roots JFP vol65 p18-23

13. Solutions

15. Good Agricultural Practices

18. Good management practices

22. Make sure you know your water system

25. Water Source Will Determine the Possible Frequency of Testing * Obtained from California Strawberry Commission (1998) Quality Assurance Program Courtesy of FDA Courtesy University of Florida Keep records from the municipality/district water system (monthly, quarterly or annual report) Municipal/District water system Beginning, middle and week before harvest Uncovered well, open canal, water reservoir, collection pond One annual test at the beginning of season Closed system, under the ground or covered tank Possible Water Testing Frequency* Source

26. Sampling criteria can differ greatly <126 MPN for 5 samples <235 single NA NA CLGMA 50%<100 50%<100 50%<1000 Buyer 2 <10 <10 <100 Buyer 1 E. coli (CFU/100mL) Thermotolerant coliforms Cfu/100 mL) Total coliforms (cfu/100 mL)

30. Acknowledgments Water Mark A. Ritenour, Ph.D. University of Florida, Indian River Research & Education Center, Fort Pierce Elizabeth A. Bihn and Robert B. Gravani National GAPs Program Cornell University

31. Resources http://www. ncagr . com/markets/gradnreg/foodsafety/index . htm Trevor Phister Phone: 919-513-1644 Email: tgphiste@ncsu.edu www.extensionfoodsafety.org