Posted December 3, 2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an exemption
from the Food Safety Modernization Act rules for a few produce items, according
to an article by The Packer available here. The exemption would apply to produce which is
typically not consumed raw.
Officials from the California almond industry believe
they should be included in the exemption, since a federal marketing order
requires that “nearly all shelled almonds sold must first undergo an approved
kill step.”
Peanuts and all tree nuts would fall under the FSMA’s
produce rule, said Julie Adams, vice president of global technology and
regulatory affairs for the Modesto-based Almond Board of California.
Adams also said that the FSMA classifies
huller-shellers as a “food facility,” but the industry considers
huller-shellers part of a farming operation and should be classified under the
grower rules.
Since 2007, almond handlers have been required to use a
process including roasting, blanching, or pasteurization to reduce bacteria,
which Adams says “provides an equivalent set of procedures that also provide
the level of consumer protection that the FDA is concerned about.”
For more information on food safety, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
