FDA issued a letter to the papaya industry on how to improve practices to better protect consumers

The FDA issued a letter to the papaya industry, calling on all sectors of the industry to take actions to prevent outbreaks in the future. The letter to the papaya industry could become a precedent for other commodities of how the agency is intending to enforce in the future the food laws. Since 2011, there have been 8 U.S. Salmonella outbreaks traced to papayas imported from Mexico. One outbreak is ongoing with more than 70 people in 8 states infected. The previous 7 outbreaks involved almost 500 illness, more than 100 hospitalizations, and two deaths. The FDA sees it as the papaya industry’s responsibility to stop recurring Salmonella outbreaks that have inundated U.S. consumers in recent years.  They ask the industry to assess venerability factors to contamination. If a foodborne pathogen is identified, a root cause analysis should be performed to determine the likely source of contamination. Procedures and practices that minimize contamination must be implemented. The papaya industry needs to examine the use and monitoring of water used to grow, spray (pesticides, fungicides), move, rinse or wax crops to identify and minimize risks from potential hazards. The industry should enhance traceability, to more rapidly track the product to expedite its removal from commerce. The papaya industry should engage in food safety research to identify the potential sources and routes of contamination by microbial pathogens and develop data-driven and risk-based preventive controls. The FDA issued a warning letter to a papaya importer, Agroson’s LLC, following an FDA investigation at the facility in conjunction with the current outbreak. This investigation uncovered significant violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  @ https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-calling-all-sectors-papaya-industry-improve-practices-better-protect-consumers?utm_campaign=082619_Statement_FDA%20calls%20on%20papaya%20industry%20to%20improve%20their%20safety%20practices&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

 Statement calling on all sectors of the papaya industry to improve practices to better protect consumers
Statement calling on all sectors of the papaya industry to improve practices to better protect consumers

FDA calls on papaya industry to improve their safety practices

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