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Food Safety Issues Related to Horticultural Commodities
Learning Objectives
- Learn the names, symptoms and causes of food borne illnesses related to
fresh or processed fruits and vegetables.
- Examine the procedure of food irradiation and possible reasons for its
lack of public acceptance.
- Review the FQPA and its near-term and long-term consequences for food production
in the USA.
- Complete and submit Assignment #7.
"Food" for Thought
The American consumer expects the food and food products they purchase
to be free of insects and disease causing organisms. They are not familiar
with the myriad of ways food becomes contaminated, nor with the need to
apply pesticides to obtain the very high quality of the fruits and vegetables
that are grown. They merely expect their food to be affordable... and safe
to consume.
Food Safety Issues
A safe and adequate food supply has come to be an expectation of the modern
consumer. What is the grower's role in insuring the safety of the food we
eat? The processors? How will proposed regulations and record keeping affect
profitability for growers?
Irradiation
Gamma radiation with relatively high dose-short duration exposure to radioactive
cobalt and other techniques is quite effective at sanitizing
fruits and vegetables. The process results in little damage to most crops.
Federal Food Quality Protection Act
The FQPA, is major legislation
directed toward insuring a "safe and adequate" food
supply for this country. FQPA fundamentally overhauls the way pesticides
are approved and the tolerances for residues that are allowed.
© 1994-2008.
All rights reserved.
Aggie
Horticulture is registered trademark 3001270 by Texas Cooperative Extension.
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843