Innovative model enhances food safety for leafy greens

By Andi Anderson

Food safety is a major concern in the produce industry, especially for leafy greens like lettuce and spinach, which are often linked to foodborne illnesses.

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a flexible model to help the produce industry manage microbial risks and improve safety strategies.

This innovative model evaluates contamination risks at five stages of the supply chain: production, harvesting, processing, retail, and consumer handling. It allows users to simulate contamination scenarios, assess interventions, and make informed decisions to minimize risks.

Lead researcher Gabriella Pinto stated, “Our goal is to provide the produce industry with a tool to estimate microbial risk and make better decisions.” The model uses leafy greens as a test case, as these are frequently involved in recalls.

The study compared two key strategies: improving washing processes and conducting product testing at the end of processing. Researchers found that better washing controls significantly reduce contamination risks compared to extensive end-product testing.

While product testing can prevent contaminated lots from reaching consumers, it may result in rejecting many low-risk products unnecessarily.

Co-researcher Gustavo Reyes noted, “This model helps growers and processors allocate resources effectively, focusing on strategies with the most meaningful impact.”

The interactive platform, SCRM-Lite, allows users to explore various contamination scenarios and interventions, offering valuable insights into food safety practices.

According to the researchers, food safety will always be a challenge due to the outdoor nature of agriculture. However, this model provides a practical approach to balancing risk and improving decision-making across the supply chain.

The findings aim to assist the industry in developing more effective, science-based strategies to enhance food safety for leafy greens and other produce.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zbynek-pospisil