Posts from the "Latest News" category
Increasing the awareness of fresh produce safety is ongoing.
The New South Wales parliamentary Inquiry into the Management of Domestic Wastewater suggests there had been either a “negligent disregard” for human health or a lack of awareness about the dangers of using raw sewage.
The final report found that untreated effluent is being used on some farms and market gardens as a form of fertiliser and that a small number of farmers deliberately use waste on their crops, additionally it also suggests that many sewage systems on small farms are failing.
Camden MP Chris Patterson, who chaired the inquiry, said most farmers are doing the right thing. “That would be very minimal if that is occurring,” he said.
“It did find out there’s a need for greater education amongst market gardens potentially in non-English backgrounds.”
To increase the awareness of fresh produce safety, FPS A&NZ is looking for support to provide a coordinated approach to research and outreach for industry-identified fresh produce safety issues and challenges in Australia and New Zealand.
This will be a ‘go-to’ source for all information and news related to food safety and act as an important interface for information between regulatory bodies and the industry at all parts of the value chain.
The industry has come a long way to bring about greater collaboration on the critical issue of food safety in the fresh produce industry, however work in this area must be ongoing to ensure the health and safety of the consumer and to build on the strengths of the fresh produce industry.
For more information regarding the actions FPS A&NZ is taking to address food safety issues and challenges and how you can be involved contact:
info@freshproducesafety-anz.com
New Presentation: “Fresh Produce Safety: A Collaborative Model” Summary by Dr. Robyn McConchie
A presentation delivered at PMA Fresh Connections last month by Dr. Robyn McConchie provides a summary of the the outcomes achieved by FPS A&NZ.
Click here to view the presentation.
Over the past year the program has raised awareness of the risks involved in food safety through a number of avenues:
Forum in November last year Bob Whitaker, Bonnie Fernandez- Fenaroli and Lorna Christie
Development of this website with a monthly newsletter
Formed a partnership with the CPS in the US on funding research and also sharing of information so that the wheel wouldn’t be reinvented – they have very generously shared their research outcomes so as to build on that work rather than start from scratch.
We have also spoken at the Biennial Freshcare Workshop in April where we also drew on the knowledge and expertise of those involved in QA to identify the most pressing research needs of the industry
Importantly we have canvassed industry on every occasion to scope out the feasibility of setting up a similar centre that would be independent but affiliated with the CPS in the US. Affiliated in the sense that we share information and outcomes.
Conducted an industry survey through the registered newsletter recipients who represent all stakeholders of the industry – Does Industry need a Fresh Produce Safety Centre?
After this Survey, it was established that the industry did want and need a Fresh Produce Safety Centre. How it will operate, what its roles will be and where to from here can all be seen in the full presentation by Dr. McConchie.
Read Article →‘What it takes to instill a food safety culture in your business’ new presentation
Food Safety in our industry is a consumer-right, requiring a collaborative effort from all sectors of the industry. Dr Douglas Powell, Professor of food safety at Kansas State University was at PMA Fresh Connections 2013 Conference last week to challenge businesses not to rely on regulation, but to rely on their staff to deliver safe food.
If you missed Doug’s presentation, it is now available for download below in three abridged segments:
What it takes to instill a food safety culture in your business
The case for instilling a food safety culture in your business
Sprouts – a special problem
Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com following his presentation, Doug said:
“Having lived here [Australia] for over two years, I don’t see that public culture of food safety. There were 140 people sick in Canberra, because they were using raw eggs in mayo and yet there was no media coverage about it.”
“The thing I hear most in food safety, whether it’s produce or anything else is – ‘We’ve always done it this way and I’ve never made anyone sick’. What it probably means is that you don’t have the surveillance systems to pick it up.”
“This is a reality – there will be outbreaks, like with rockmelon and peanuts in Australia and you as an industry have a chance to come together and get proactive, or wait until the next outbreak.”
Doug’s blog, ‘Barfblog’ is a handy source of current food safety information. You can check it out at www.barfblog.com
‘What it takes to instill a food safety culture in your business’ new presentation
Food Safety in our industry is a consumer-right, requiring a collaborative effort from all sectors of the industry. Dr Douglas Powell, Professor of food safety at Kansas State University was at PMA Fresh Connections 2013 Conference last week to challenge businesses not to rely on regulation, but to rely on their staff to deliver safe food.
Read Article →
Fourth FPSANZ monthly newsletter out now!
The fourth edition of the Fresh Produce Safety Australia & New Zealand newsletter has just been released!
In this edition:
Find out about the Fresh Produce Safety Centre at PMA Fresh Connections
Visit the FOOD SAFETY HUB, booth #61
SURVEY RESULTS: Does the Industry need a Fresh Produce Safety Centre?
Fresh produce safety important to industry: recognising young professional with award.
…and more!
Click here to check out the newsletter.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in the Fresh Produce Safety community by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
SURVEY RESULTS: Does the Industry need a Fresh Produce Safety Centre?
A primary objective for FPS A&NZ was to scope out the feasibility for a dedicated body to identify research needs and provide appropriate food safety solutions for the Australian fresh produce Industry.
FPS A&NZ has made strong progress towards this objective and it was decided to survey the industry to determine the level of support for the establishment of a Fresh Produce Safety Centre. The survey was sent to the entire list of individuals who have registered to receive regular newsletters from FPS A&NZ, representing a large range of sectors in the fresh produce industry.
The survey contained questions aimed at gauging industry’s in-principle support for the establishment of a Fresh Produce Safety Centre; whether the University of Sydney was an appropriate ‘base’ for the Centre; what should be the overarching role of the Centre; and what were the priorities for food safety research.
From the responses, there was overwhelming support, in principle, for the establishment of a Fresh Produce Safety Centre (98%) and for it to be “housed” at the University of Sydney (95%).
The survey also revealed that the role of the proposed Centre was to call and manage research in food safety and importantly to provide industry wide education and information and news on fresh produce safety, while representing the industry on regulatory matters was the most unpopular role for the Centre. Results like this provide information that will assist in ensuring that the roles of other organisations will not be duplicated.
Research priorites needed to address the gaps in knowledge in food safety covers a wide variety of areas, but the top three topics as chosen by the respondents were Microbial contamination on-farm followed by topics Pathogens in the postharvest supply chain and Water – Postharvest.
The survey unequivocally indicated that there is widespread support for the establishment of a Fresh Produce Safety Centre for the whole fresh fruit and vegetable industries that will identify and conduct industry-driven research projects and provide valuable information, education and outreach on all aspects of fresh produce safety.
Download the full survey report here.
Third FPSANZ monthly newsletter out now!
The third edition of the Fresh Produce Safety Australia & New Zealand newsletter has just been released!
In this edition:
Introducing the FPS A&NZ Technical Committee
FPS A&NZ hosting Food Safety Hub at PMA Fresh Connections!
What happened at the Freshcare Workshop? Find out from the team.
“What’s new in Food Safety for you?” Presentation available.
…and more!
Click here to check out the newsletter.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in the Fresh Produce Safety community by signing up for the monthly newsletter.
“Whats new in food safety for you?” presentation now available.
At the recent Freshcare Workshop 11-12 April 2013, Associate Professor Robyn McConchie (USyd) delivered a presentation on “Whats new in Food Safety for you?”
The presentation was based on information provided by Dr Bob Whitaker (PMA) and Ms Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli (CPS) and summarises some of the food safety research made available at the Center for Produce Safety 2012 Research Symposium.
Read Article →
Introducing the FPSANZ Technical Committee, 2013.
The FPS Technical Committee has been formed to collaborate with the Center for Produce Safety at UC Davis to review the research proposals submitted by the Australian research community.
The objective of the research is to provide the produce industry with practical, translatable research data that can be used at all levels throughout the supply chain and the FPS Technical Committee is well equipped to review the submissions.
The research proposals will address two major research priorities, which were identified at the industry Fresh Produce Safety Forum in November 2012: Compost, Soil Amendment Fertiliser Use, and Cultivation Practices; and Agricultural Water.
The 2013 FPS Technical Committee includes:
(Chair) Professor Les Copeland, Professor of Agriculture,Faculty of Agriculture and Environment University of Sydney (NSW)
Dr Andreas Klieber, Agriculture Policy Manager, Coles-Wesfarmers (Vic)
Dr David Miles, Senior Technical Officer, NSW Food Authority (NSW)
Mr Scott Ledger, Senior Horticulturist (Postharvest), Hort VC Group (Qld)
Mr Richard Bennett, Product Integrity Manager, Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) (Vic)
Mrs Allison Clark, General Manager for Marketing, Houston’s Farm (Tas).
For more details on the Committee, please download their profiles.
Read Article →
Shoppers in the Asia-Pacific have a taste for safe food.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Fresh Foods released its report this month, revealing that food safety is one of the major influences for shoppers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Fresh food contributes to more than 50% of food, grocery and personal care spending in most Asian countries.
“While modern trade fresh food shoppers are motivated by freshness and convenience, their view of these attributes are different than a traditional shopper,” said Peter Gale, managing director of Retailer Services, Nielsen Asia-Pacific and Middle East. “Freshness relates to cleanliness and food safety and the belief that they can trust the quality of the product. Convenience is about one-stop shopping rather than location.”
It is clear that food safety is at the front of the consumers mind when purchasing fresh produce, it is important to “Ensure high quality standards and effectively communicate the importance of food safety.” said Gale.
To read the full report click here.
Read Article →