MSU Extension Agrifood Safety

News

• The $25,000 question: Am I covered under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule?

  Published on May 22, 2018
  The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) specifies produce growers who have annual gross produce sales of $25,000 or less are not covered under the Produce Safety Rule. Learn some of the small but challenging aspects of that very simple exclusion.

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  Why you should worry about clean breaks and lot sizes

  Published on May 22, 2018
  Cleaning and sanitizing all food contact surfaces are required to establish a clean break. Learn what a clean break is and why it might be important to fruit and vegetable growers who grade, sort and store the produce they grow.

• Finer points of cleaning and sanitizing fruit and vegetable contact surfaces

  Published on April 10, 2018
  The Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule requires cleaning and sanitizing harvest containers. Learn how to clean and sanitize, and when it is required under the Produce Safety Rule.

• Compost recordkeeping: What do I really need to have?

  Published on February 28, 2018
  Learn which compost records are required for Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance and understand what you need with regards to audits.

• Process exemptions within the Food Safety and Modernization Act

  Published on February 28, 2018
  Process exemptions are one of many ways fruit and vegetable growers may need to only partially comply with the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

• Some food hubs are not qualified end users under the FSMA Produce Safety Rule

  Published on October 9, 2017
  Many growers think they are eligible for a qualified exemption under the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule because they sell to a food hub. A recent response from the FDA says this may not be the case.

• Storing and applying compost under the Produce Safety Rule

  Published on August 9, 2017
  When used in fresh produce cropping systems, using and storing compost falls under the Produce Safety Rule of the Food Safety Modernization Act with strict guidelines.

• Factors to consider when purchasing used produce-processing equipment

  Published on May 30, 2017
  Producers should ask these questions when purchasing equipment for a fruit or vegetable packhouse to ensure food safety.

• Practical pointers around submitting water samples for food safety

  Published on May 10, 2017
  Water sampling to meet federal on-farm food safety guidelines can be confusing. This article helps eliminate some confusion about taking and submitting a water sample.

• Compost use and FSMA compliance: What does FDA mean by compost?

  Published on May 3, 2017
  How does the FDA define composting and its use in fresh produce with regards to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)? Let’s clarify the definitions used by the FDA in FSMA.