Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 127

Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of
Produce for Human Consumption (the Produce Safety Rule).
Subpart L of the Produce Safety Rule addresses equipment
and tools " that are intended to, or likely to, contact covered
produce; and those instruments or controls used to measure,
regulate, or record conditions to control or prevent the
growth of microorganisms of public health significance.
Examples include knives, implements, mechanical harvesters,
waxing machinery, cooling equipment (including hydrocoolers),
grading belts, sizing equipment, palletizing equipment,
and equipment used to store or convey harvested covered
produce (such as containers, bins, food-packing material,
dump tanks, flumes, and vehicles or other equipment used
for transport that are intended to, or likely to, contact covered
produce). " Requirements address equipment and tool design,
construction, workmanship, installation, maintenance, storage,
and inspections as well as cleaning and sanitation. On a
global level, the 2003 Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits
and Vegetables, the Codex Alimentarius (36) incorporates
routine cleaning and sanitizing of food-contact surfaces into
their recommendations for the primary production of fresh
produce. Within the industry, commodity groups have
developed commodity-specific food safety guidelines in
which best practices address cleaning and sanitizing of
equipment used in the field.
Since the 1990s, as evidenced by the aforementioned
food safety guidelines and standards, equipment has been
recognized as a potential conduit for pathogen transmission
from the environment to fresh produce. However, equipment
had often received less scrutiny than other means of microbial
cross-contamination in the field until recent circumstances
brought renewed attention to field equipment clean-ing
and sanitation practices. During a foodborne illness
outbreak attributed to Listeria monocytogenes contamination
of prepackaged salads, swab samples taken from equipment
surfaces and internal framework used to harvest lettuce
contained in the mixes tested positive for this pathogen.
Genetic analysis of L. monocytogenes isolates from equipment
samples revealed a match with the outbreak strain isolated
from patients affected by this outbreak (30).
As noted above, various types of tools, equipment, and
containers have direct contact with crops during produce
harvesting operations (44, 110, 158). Many produce commodities
(e.g., fruit, vegetables, and nuts) are harvested with
hand-held tools and placed by hand into containers or onto
mechanized harvest-aide equipment surfaces or conveyer
belts (45, 135, 161, 188). However, use of mechanical and/
or automated harvesting equipment is becoming increasingly
necessary and attractive, driven primarily by challenges in
labor availability that have affected the industry's ability to
harvest product in a timely fashion or to its full productivity
per acre. In addition to equipment and tools used to separate
product from the remaining plant and roots, harvesting operations
may also involve crop contact with auxiliary accumulation
and transport equipment and implements such as bins
and cartons (87, 103, 125, 146, 157), cloths used to wipe
harvested product (151), and workers' hands or gloves
(19, 52). For numerous produce commodities such as head
lettuce, berries, and cantaloupe, it is a common practice to
pack harvested product into retail-ready packaging (e.g.,
plastic clamshells, bags, or cartons) in the field. Berries are
placed directly into consumer units (clamshells) of various
sizes by individual workers. Field-packed cantaloupes are
generally placed on a conveyor, distributed on a large mobile
packing platform for size grading, and placed in single-use
corrugated fiber cartons or reusable packaging containers.
For diverse leafy greens, harvested product is typically
placed on individual packing station platforms or a common
conveyor and may be further trimmed by machine or handheld
tools and sprayed with water containing a minimal
amount of an antimicrobial and antibrowning agent before
being packaged or packed for transport. Equipment used
in these activities includes various types of food-contact
surfaces (e.g., blades, bands, conveyors, tabletops, and
cutting boards) constructed with a variety of materials such
as plastics, silicone, rubber, textiles, or metal. Many of these
food-contact surfaces have components that are difficult to
clean, due to either their design and construction (e.g., niches
or places that are hidden or unreachable) or the wearing or
corrosion of materials (e.g., formation of grooves or cavities)
(57).
For some commodities and/or growing regions, preharvest,
harvest, and postharvest operations are fully integrated
within a company, whereas for other commodities or growing
regions these activities are segregated among several
contractors. During harvest season, harvesting equipment
use is highly dynamic; equipment is frequently moved between
fields within a ranch, among crop owners (as defined
by business contracts), and even among growing regions as
production shifts with seasonal changes. Because of these
supply chain and business structure complexities, cleaning
and sanitizing activities can often be a daily or even splituse
day logistical challenge. Beyond decisions regarding
when to clean, decisions about cleaning methods, cleaning
location and frequency, and even next-day preoperational
recleaning also present significant challenges to equipment
operators. This review includes a discussion of current
industry practices, the food safety hazards related to equipment
and tools used during produce harvesting and field
packaging or packing activities, and the subsequent food
safety risk to harvested produce within and between lots
and farms when harvesting equipment and tools become
contaminated. The objective of this review was to compile
and summarize relevant research and synthesize relevant
findings to broaden awareness of and enhance the use of
best practices for produce harvesting equipment cleaning
and sanitation.
March/April Food Protection Trends 127

Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023

Perceptions of Risk, Control, and Responsibility Regarding Food Safety among Consumers in Lebanon
Fresh Produce Harvesting Equipment – A Review of Cleaning and Sanitizing Practices and Related Science
Assessing Physical Attributes Associated with Implementation of Risk Management Practices among Small Strawberry Farms
Evaluating Misinformation on YouTube about Washing Produce Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Minimally Processed Vegetables: Consumer Profile, Consumption Habits, and Perceptions of Microbiological Risk
Beyond the Bio
PDG Highlight
Industry Products
Letter to the Editor
Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Cover1
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Cover2
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 105
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 106
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 107
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 108
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 109
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 110
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 111
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Perceptions of Risk, Control, and Responsibility Regarding Food Safety among Consumers in Lebanon
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 113
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 114
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 115
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 116
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 117
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 118
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 119
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 120
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 121
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 122
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 123
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 124
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 125
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Fresh Produce Harvesting Equipment – A Review of Cleaning and Sanitizing Practices and Related Science
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 127
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 128
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 129
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 130
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 131
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 132
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 133
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 134
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 135
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 136
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 137
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 138
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 139
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 140
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 141
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 142
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 143
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Assessing Physical Attributes Associated with Implementation of Risk Management Practices among Small Strawberry Farms
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 145
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 146
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 147
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 148
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 149
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 150
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 151
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 152
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 153
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 154
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 155
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 156
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 157
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 158
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 159
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 160
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Evaluating Misinformation on YouTube about Washing Produce Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 162
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 163
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 164
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 165
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 166
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Minimally Processed Vegetables: Consumer Profile, Consumption Habits, and Perceptions of Microbiological Risk
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 168
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 169
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 170
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 171
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 172
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 173
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 174
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 175
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 176
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 177
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 178
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 179
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Beyond the Bio
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 181
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 182
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - PDG Highlight
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 184
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 185
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 186
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 187
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Industry Products
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 189
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 190
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 191
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 192
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Letter to the Editor
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 194
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 195
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 196
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 197
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 198
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - 199
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Cover3
Food Protection Trends - March/April 2023 - Cover4
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