FLORIDA TOMATOFLORIDA TOMATOREGULATIONREGULATION
AFDO Annual Educational ConferenceAFDO Annual Educational ConferenceJune 11, 2008June 11, 2008
Dr. Marion Aller, DirectorDivision of Food SafetyFL Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services
BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND
12 Outbreaks associated with fresh 12 Outbreaks associated with fresh tomatoes, 1840 illnesses tomatoes, 1840 illnesses States implicated: States implicated: FL, VAFL, VA, , OH, SC, OH, SC, CA, GA CA, GA (Industry) Attempted regulation via (Industry) Attempted regulation via Marketing OrderMarketing OrderApproached FDACS 2006; law Approached FDACS 2006; law enacted 2007enacted 2007
Legislative AuthorityLegislative Authority
-- ““Food EstablishmentFood Establishment”” –– “…“…includes includes tomato packing houses tomato packing houses but but ……does not does not include any include any otherother establishments that establishments that packpack……-- Provides authority to Provides authority to ““enhance the food enhance the food safety of tomatoessafety of tomatoes”” and and ““establish and establish and adopt requirements for enhancing food adopt requirements for enhancing food safetysafety……””
Tomato RegulationTomato Regulation
Rule adopted Spring, 2008 Rule adopted Spring, 2008 ––effective July 1, 2008effective July 1, 2008Two Divisions involved!Two Divisions involved!InspectionsInspections–– performed as necessary to verify performed as necessary to verify
compliance, minimum once yearlycompliance, minimum once yearly–– Dept reimbursed $75/hourDept reimbursed $75/hour
Tomato RegulationTomato RegulationPermit fee for Packing HousesPermit fee for Packing HousesAdopts Adopts ““Best Practices ManualBest Practices Manual””ExemptionsExemptions–– Tomatoes, sold on premises or farmers Tomatoes, sold on premises or farmers
in farmerin farmer’’s market if s market if << two 25 pound two 25 pound boxes per consumerboxes per consumer
–– Charitable contributionsCharitable contributionsViolations subject to Penalties under Violations subject to Penalties under
Food Safety LawFood Safety Law
Best Practices ManualBest Practices Manual
Contains both requirements and Contains both requirements and recommendationsrecommendationsReferences existing guidance References existing guidance
documents (e.g. Commodity Specific documents (e.g. Commodity Specific Guidelines for Tomatoes; FDA Guide Guidelines for Tomatoes; FDA Guide to Minimize Microbial Hazards, Food to Minimize Microbial Hazards, Food Safety Tool Kit for Fresh ProduceSafety Tool Kit for Fresh Produce……))
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
Variety of recommendations Variety of recommendations regarding prior land use, adjacent regarding prior land use, adjacent land use, animal exclusionland use, animal exclusionRequiresRequires pest control program, pest control program,
including removal of harborageincluding removal of harborageRequiresRequires routine reviewroutine review
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
Irrigation WaterIrrigation Water–– MustMust meet meet E.coliE.coli standard for standard for
recreational waterrecreational water–– MustMust document source, delivery systemdocument source, delivery system–– Water used in foliar applications Water used in foliar applications mustmust
meet microbial standards for meet microbial standards for potabilitypotability–– Testing frequency Testing frequency requirementsrequirements
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
Field Sanitation / Worker HygieneField Sanitation / Worker Hygiene–– Sanitation facilities Sanitation facilities mustmust meet meet
state/federal regulationsstate/federal regulations–– Recommended reassignment of Recommended reassignment of
workers w/ certain symptoms of illnessworkers w/ certain symptoms of illness–– Recommended training/education and Recommended training/education and
documentationdocumentation
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
Crop Production PracticesCrop Production Practices–– References existing laws for fertilizer / References existing laws for fertilizer /
pesticide applicationspesticide applications–– ProhibitsProhibits use of use of uncomposteduncomposted manuresmanures–– RequiresRequires documentation of composting documentation of composting
method, date of composting, date of method, date of composting, date of applicationapplication
–– Foliar applications Foliar applications mustmust use water use water meeting microbial standards for meeting microbial standards for potabilitypotability
Best Practices Manual Part A: Best Practices Manual Part A: Farms and GreenhousesFarms and Greenhouses
HarvestHarvest–– Recommendation for training Recommendation for training
contractors/crews, cullingcontractors/crews, culling–– EliminatesEliminates Field Pack w/o microbial Field Pack w/o microbial
reduction procedurereduction procedure–– RequiresRequires cleaning/sanitizing food cleaning/sanitizing food
contact surfaces, record keepingcontact surfaces, record keeping
Best Practices Manual Part B: Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing HousesPacking Houses
Best Practices Manual Part B: Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing HousesPacking Houses
Subject to applicable portions of Subject to applicable portions of Food Safety Sanitation RegulationFood Safety Sanitation RegulationRequires writtenRequires written SSOPsSSOPsProvisions for employee hygiene Provisions for employee hygiene
practices / toilets/ practices / toilets/ handwashhandwash facilitiesfacilitiesWater must meet microbial standards Water must meet microbial standards
for for potabilitypotability
Best Practices Manual Part B: Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing HousesPacking Houses
Dump TankDump Tank–– Water temp 10Water temp 10o o above pulp tempabove pulp temp–– Cleaned, water changed dailyCleaned, water changed daily–– Minimum 150 Minimum 150 ppmppm free chlorine, free chlorine,
maximum contact time 2 min, pH 6.5 maximum contact time 2 min, pH 6.5 ––7.57.5
–– Monitoring, written records Monitoring, written records requiredrequired
Best Practices Manual Part B: Best Practices Manual Part B: Packing HousesPacking Houses
Provisions for storage, ripening Provisions for storage, ripening rooms, chemical usage, pest controlrooms, chemical usage, pest controlRequiresRequires inspection of transportation inspection of transportation
vehicles prior to loadingvehicles prior to loadingProhibitsProhibits reuse of final packing reuse of final packing
containerscontainersRequiresRequires positive lot identification, positive lot identification,
name/address of producer or packername/address of producer or packer
Florida Tomato Regulation:Florida Tomato Regulation:SummarySummary
Florida Tomato Regulation:Florida Tomato Regulation:SummarySummary
Breaking new ground Breaking new ground –– NOT EASY!NOT EASY!Significant industry supportSignificant industry support““AuditAudit”” for both regulatory for both regulatory
requirements AND adoption of requirements AND adoption of recommended practicesrecommended practicesFirst year outreach and educationFirst year outreach and education
CREDITSCREDITS
Thank you:Thank you:-- Capt. Thomas Hill, FDACapt. Thomas Hill, FDA-- Dr. Martha Roberts, UF/IFAS for Dr. Martha Roberts, UF/IFAS for photographs !photographs !
THANK YOUTHANK YOUDr. Marion Aller, DirectorDivision of Food SafetyFL Dept of Agriculture and Consumer
