Produce food safety summarized

The Packer reports that in advance of its second annual Produce Research Symposium, the Center for Produce Safety has issued a report on last year’s findings.

The report, about 50 pages, is available at www.pma.com/system/files/CPS_report.pdf.

The symposium findings have been summarized before, but with a simplicity that didn’t spell out some of the implications for building food safety programs, said Bob Whitaker, chief science and technology officer for PMA.

Among the findings: Modifying lettuce coring knives can reduce pathogen contamination risks, and California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement crop buffers appear to work.