By Jamie Martin
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have introduced a groundbreaking model aimed at bolstering food safety within the produce sector. This model provides the produce industry with vital tools to evaluate and improve safety controls throughout the supply chain.
Gabriella Pinto, a doctoral student, emphasized the model's practical applications, stating, “The goal of this project is to give the produce industry a tool to estimate microbial risk and help them make decisions around food safety.”
The model spans five stages of the produce journey - from primary production through to consumer handling. It allows for simulation of various contamination scenarios and interventions at any stage, thereby enabling an estimation of microbial risks up to the point of retail.
Specifically focusing on leafy greens—a frequent culprit in foodborne outbreaks—the model assesses different safety practices and their trade-offs.
According to the research, improving process controls like washing significantly reduces the risk of contamination more effectively than end-stage product testing alone.
The framework developed can be adapted for different produce types, making it a versatile tool in the industry’s arsenal against foodborne illnesses. This innovation not only aids in understanding the effectiveness of current practices but also in planning future safety measures.
With the interactive webpage SCRM-Lite, industry stakeholders can explore various contamination and intervention scenarios, making the research directly accessible and applicable to real-world situations.
This tool marks a significant advancement in the way the produce industry can anticipate and mitigate risks associated with food safety.
Photo Credit: food-istock-elenathewise
Categories: National