Implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act among fruit and vegetable processors in the North Central Region

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a food safety law that changed the way food companies are regulated to prevent foodborne illnesses. The FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food rule was released September 2016 for facilities in manufacturing, processing, packing, and holding of human food. The North Central Region (NCR) Center for FSMA Training, Extension and Technical Assistance was founded by the Food and Drug Administration to assist with the education of processors around the Midwest. The NCR Center funded a project with three phases designed to help small fruit and vegetable processors in the Midwest understand their relationship with FSMA. Phase one was an audit checklist, phase two was extension fact sheets, and phase three was a needs assessment survey for processors. A prior needs assessment disseminated to growers in the NCR identified checklists and fact sheets as preferred methods of receiving educational materials about FSMA. The results from the grower needs assessment were translated into a checklist for processors. An audit checklist for processors to use in their facilities was designed in phase one. This checklist provided processors with a tool to determine their compliance with several parts of FSMA. Extension facts sheets were developed in phase two to help processors know their state food safety regulations. Topics in the fact sheets were post-harvest processing methods such as freezing, dehydrating, fermenting, pickling, and canning of jam and jelly products. The final phase was the design and dissemination of a needs assessment survey to processors in the NCR to determine what additional materials can be provided to help the population. Questions were asked about the processor’s understanding of the FSMA. Food safety professionals representing each processor responded to the survey. The needs assessment identified Amendments to Registration of Food Facilities, validation of the food safety plan, and the supply-chain programs as specific areas of FSMA processors would like assistance with. The needs assessment also verified the interest in the previously developed materials. Overall, the project increases the knowledge of FSMA among fruit and vegetable processors in the NCR