The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a comprehensive strategy to prevent foodborne illnesses linked to fresh and frozen berries. The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) praised the agency for its collaborative approach with industry, which developed the strategy over several years.
The new strategy aims to enhance global cooperation in managing enteric viruses on berries. Notably, the FDA has reported no enteric virus outbreaks associated with domestic berries in the past 35 years.
“We thank the FDA for their partnership and transparency,” said Natalie Dyenson, IFPA chief food safety and regulatory officer. “Ensuring public health safety is our top priority, and we’re grateful for their recognition of industry feedback on testing methodologies.”
The FDA has published a constituent update on its Berry Prevention Strategy, which focuses on reducing viral outbreaks linked to fresh and frozen berries. Additionally, the agency released a final report on its 2019-2023 frozen berry sampling assignment.
For more information, contact Ashley Sempowski at the International Fresh Produce Association: [email protected] or visit their website at https://www.freshproduce.com/
Source: https://www.freshplaza.com/north-america/article/9696278/preventing-enteric-viral-outbreaks-in-fresh-and-frozen-berries