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Time to Reevaluate
Food Safety Programs
By Randy Brooks As microbiological contamination concerns are increasing in food handling and processing, this is an excellent time to reevaluate your food safety programs. Recently, nut products have been receiving intense media attention due to food recalls. With the increased scrutiny by regulators and the media, it is imperative that all processors, regardless of commodity, review and reassess all policies, procedures, and processes. Our industry strives to ensure that all programs are in place to minimize the potential for contamination of received ingredients and during processing. One item that has come to light during recent investigations is validation of food safety processes. To ensure microbiological contamination mitigation, all pasteurization or “kill-step” processes such as roasting, blanching, PPO treatment, etc. must be validated. We continue our commitment to our members in providing food safety and sanitation guidance. We are your association and are here to assist you through this challenging time. Please contact Randy Brooks, food safety and quality manager at 209.561.5900, extension 104, or e-mail at randyb@agfoodsafety.org , to learn more about the services ACFSQ can provide you. |
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Comments, questions or story ideas? Please contact newsletter editor Richard Cherrix at 916.561.5900 ext. 107 or richc@agfoodsafety.org IN THIS ISSUE Speciality Crop Trade Council Annual Meeting 2009 Safe and Efficient Inspection Guidelines The Dried Fruit Moisture Tester New Allergy Webinar to Assist with Food Safety Issues Member Spotlight: Riverwest Processing, Inc. Nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Pacific Coast Ranges in California's fertile Sacramento River Valley, lies more than a half-million acres of the world's finest, and most productive almond orchards. Riverwest Processing, Inc., located in Glenn, California, was founded in 2004 by the Koehnen and Paiva families. Their mission was simple: to provide a first-class processing destination for their growers, and a complete supply solution for customers seeking high-quality, natural California-grown almonds. read more Carrier of the Year Award The Specialty Crop Trade Council would like to announce that APL has been awarded the “Carrier of the Year” award for 2008. The “Carrier of the Year” award is based on the total number of containers shipped by the carrier in the calendar year. AgTC: “Clean Truck” Program The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) recently wrote to the Port of Seattle Commission summarizing its support for the Port’s approach to effort to reduce emissions and improve air quality. A full copy of AgTC’s comments can be read by clicking here. DFA Terms and Conditions Clarification In mid February, members received a letter regarding the misuse of the phrase “DFA Terms and Conditions.” We would like to remind you that in actuality, the terms and conditions referenced are actually a contract developed by the California Dried Fruit Export Association (CDFEA), which is now referred to as the Specialty Crop Trade Council (SCTC.) For more information regarding these terms and conditions, and the changes in some of the trade and contract requirements in particular industry segments, please read the full letter to our industry members, and the Export Contract Terms & Conditions at http://www.agfoodsafety.org/news-events-links.php |
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