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Cleaning and Sanitizing in Produce Facilities: Identifying Compliance Gaps and Associated Training Needs, Opportunities and Preferences.
- Source :
- Food Protection Trends; Sep/Oct2023, Vol. 43 Issue 5, p409-418, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Inspections of fresh produce operations for compliance with the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) have identified cleaning and sanitizing (C/S) as a significant challenge. To better understand C/S practices in the produce industry a national survey was administered over a 3-week period in summer 2020 to fresh produce operations in U.S. Survey responses (n = 162) represented 135 produce operations from 18 different states. The most common materials reported for harvesting containers (n = 50 responses) were plastic (80%), wood (30%), cardboard (16%), and canvas (12%), while stainless steel (81%) and plastic (71%) were most commonly used for post-harvest equipment (n = 42 responses). Bleach (40/63), quaternary ammonium compounds (32/63), and peracetic acid (26/63) were the most commonly reported sanitizers. Respondents indicated there is a need for resources on principles and practical implementation of C/S, identification of hazards and prioritizing C/S activities, establishing a C/S program, and verification of C/S effectiveness, in English, Spanish and other languages. High turnover and seasonal workforce (37/65) and no time to C/S (19/65) were indicated as major barriers for improving C/S in a facility. The results of the survey helped guide a virtual C/S workshop in 2021, and an in-person workshop currently in development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15419576
- Volume :
- 43
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Food Protection Trends
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 170731262
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4315/FPT-23-011