FDA releases strategy to prevent fresh, frozen berry contamination

The Food and Drug Administration has released a summary of a new strategy to prevent the contamination of fresh and frozen berries with enteric viruses. The FDA said the new strategy highlights actions to help identify preventative measures and ensure consistent application of these measures.

The FDA said that outbreaks of enteric virus infections, including hepatitis A virus and human norovirus, have been linked to fresh and frozen berries in the U.S. and globally. Though no enteric virus outbreaks have been associated with or reported in domestic berries in 35 years, reported outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh and frozen berries, according to a news release.

The FDA said the prevention strategies outline actions to identify and ensure accurate and timely communication and consistent application of effective prevention measures across the global berry industry. The agency said the new strategy also fosters scientific research to enhance the ability to detect and characterize enteric viruses and link sources of contamination using advanced laboratory methods.

The plan aims to reduce future incidences of foodborne illnesses linked to fresh and frozen berries, according to the release. The FDA said it developed this strategy following assessments of outbreak findings, historical data and engagements with food safety experts and other interest holders.

"Collaboration between regulators, the global berry industry and other interest holders has been critical for the development of this strategy,” said Conrad Choiniere, director of the Office of Microbiological Food Safety at the FDA’s Human Food Program. “We look forward to ongoing collaboration to ensure the success of this strategy, and others, for the prevention of foodborne illness.”

The International Fresh Produce Association released a statement commending the agency for working closely with the fresh produce industry for the past several years to develop this comprehensive strategy.

“We thank the FDA for their partnership and transparency in the reports released today,” Natalie Dyenson, IFPA’s chief food safety and regulatory officer, said in a statement. “Ensuring the safety of public health is foundational to IFPA’s food safety philosophy. As part of this, we, along with our members, often collaborate with regulatory agencies to provide industry perspectives so that any guidance or regulations are practical and workable in line with current practices.

"We appreciate the FDA’s request and inclusion of our feedback, especially as they acknowledged the limitations of the current testing methodologies and sampling assignments," Dyenson continued. "We look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the FDA to ensure that consumers have confidence in the fresh fruits and vegetables they enjoy every day.”