FDA Issues Letter To Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship
Fresh Lettuce and Fresh Tomatoes

FDA has issued a letter to firms that grow, pack, or ship fresh lettuce and/or fresh tomatoes informing them of FDA's concern regarding continuing outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of these products and recommending actions that industries take to enhance the safety of these products.

Since 1996, the FDA has responded to 14 outbreaks of foodborne illness for which fresh lettuce or fresh tomatoes were the confirmed or suspected vehicle. These outbreaks account for approximately 859 reported cases of illness. The lettuce and fresh tomatoes associated with these outbreaks were of U.S. and non-U.S. origin; the causative agents included Salmonella (fresh tomatoes), and E. coli O157:H7, Cyclospora, and Hepatitis A virus (lettuce).

Because fresh vegetables such as lettuce and tomatoes are commonly consumed in their raw state without processing to reduce or eliminate pathogens, the manner in which they are grown, harvested, sorted, packed, and distributed is crucial to ensuring that the potential for microbial contamination is minimized, thereby reducing the risk of illness to consumers.

In view of continuing outbreaks associated with fresh lettuce and fresh tomatoes, FDA strongly encourages firms in these industries to review their current operations in light of the agency's guidance for minimizing microbial food safety hazards in fresh lettuce and fresh tomatoes, as well as other available information regarding pathogen reduction or elimination on fresh produce. FDA further encourages these firms to consider modifying their operations accordingly, to ensure that they are taking the appropriate measures to provide a safe product to the consumer. Since the available information concerning some of the recent outbreaks does not definitively identify the point of origin of the contamination, FDA recommends that firms from the farm level through the distribution level undertake these steps.

The complete letter is on CFSAN's web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodltr.html.

CD-ROM on Registration of Food Facilities and Prior Notice of
Imported Food Shipments Now Available

FDA has created a CD-ROM with extensive information about the interim final rules (IFRs) on Registration of Food Facilities and Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments. These IFRs were effective December 12, 2003. The CD-ROM includes:

• Two booklets, What You Need To Know About Registration of Food Facilities and What You Need To Know About Prior Notice of Imported Food
• Compliance Policy Guides, one on each of the two rules
• Questions and Answers on each of the two rules
• The two IFRs as they appeared in the Federal Register with a list of contents linked to the various sections of the rules to facilitate searches
• Videostreams in English, captioned English, Spanish, and French of a telecast panel discussion of the two IFRs by senior FDA and Customs and Border Protection officials
• Transcripts of the panel discussions in English, Spanish, and French
• Fact Sheets on the IFRs in a variety of languages
• PowerPoint presentations on the IFRs in a variety of languages
• Tutorials to assist individuals in complying with the new rules

All of the files on the CD-ROM can be accessed on the internet at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtact.html. Copies of the CD-ROM may be requested by calling 1-800-216-7331 or 301-575-0156 or by faxing a request to 301-210-0247.

Upcoming Public Meetings on Registration of Food Facilities and
Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments

FDA is hosting a series of public meetings to provide an update on FDA's interim final rules on Registration of Food Facilities and Prior Notice of Imported Food Shipments. The meetings will be held in Denver, CO; Fresno, CA; El Paso, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; Kansas City, MO; New Orleans, LA; Raleigh/Cary, NC; Philadelphia, PA; and Mansfield, MA. Attendees may register online at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac18.html or by fax at (202) 479-6801. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Marion Allen at (301) 436-1584 or by fax at (301) 436-2605.

Food Safety and Security Staff E-mail:

Office Number: (301) 436-2277· FAX (301) 436-2605 CFSAN Web site: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/