March 1, 2001

"How to Facilitate A Traceback Investigation" is an invaluable farm investigations training workshop sponsored by United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration. The interactive workshop provides advice on traceback investigations and the application of good agricultural practices (GAPs). Workshops have been held in Arizona, California and Texas. Upcoming workshops will be held on:

March 19, 2001 Tampa, Florida
April 2, 2001 Syracuse, New York
April 10, 2001 East Lansing, Michigan

For additional information, please see the CFSAN Web Page at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodtra.html.

FDA has released the results of its Survey of Imported Fresh Produce, FY 1999 Field Assignment. The report is available on CFSAN's Web Page at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsur6.html.

The report provides an executive summary, background information, describes the procedures used for collection and analysis, discusses regulatory followup for violative samples, survey results, incidence by produce item, incidence by pathogen, detention without physical examination and consequences of the imported produce survey.

Results from the analysis of the 1003 samples collected through the assignment indicated that 96% were not contaminated with Shigella, Salmonella, and/or E. coli 0157:H7. 4% of the samples were contaminated with either Shigella or Salmonella while 0% of the produce samples were contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.

Due to the high rate of pathogens (Salmonella and Shigella) recovered from cilantro, culantro, and cantaloupe samples in the 1999 Imported Produce Assignment, FDA has issued the FY 2001 Imported Produce Assignment. The purpose of the assignment is to obtain additional information on the incidence and the extent of pathogen contamination for those commodities plus tomatoes. FDA will use the addition information in the development of its policy to improve the safety of fresh produce.

The FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce, Imported Produce Assignment FY 2001 can be found on CFSAN's Web Page at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsur7.html.

FDA has an on-going complimentary assignment for domestic fresh produce. The assignment calls for the collection of 1,000 samples. Through the assignment 125 samples each of eight products (cantaloupe, celery, cilantro, loose-leaf lettuce, parsley, scallion, strawberries, and tomatoes) will be collected. Sample collection and analysis is expected to be completed by mid-May.

The FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce, Domestic Produce Sampling Assignment can be found on CFSAN's Web page at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsur2.html.

Food Safety Initiative Staff E-mail: chammett@cfsan.fda.gov

Office Number: (202) 260-8920 · FAX (202) 260-9653 CFSAN Web site: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/

Hypertext updated by dms 2001-MAR-02