Produce shippers prepare comments for FDA food safety regs

   United Fresh, a large trade group representing shippers of fresh fruits and vegetables, will host a series of stakeholder meetings in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s public hearings on the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule.
   The first meeting will be on Feb. 27 in Washington, prior to FDA’s public meeting on Feb. 28 – March 1. United Fresh’s meetings will provide opportunities for fresh produce industry stakeholders to learn about and respond to the proposed rules.
   “United’s extensive FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) rules review process involves members from all segments of the industry, and these meetings will be critical to ensuring that the comments we submit are reflective of that,” said David Gombas, the association’s senior vice president of food safety and technology, in a statement.
   Two more United Fresh meetings will be announced as FDA releases dates and locations for its public meetings. FDA will hold a total of three public meetings for each of the rules, as required by law, with the remaining two expected to be held in other regions of the country.
   United Fresh’s two working groups, one for each rule, have already started to review the proposals. The working groups represent a broad spectrum and expertise of the produce industry.
   More details about the proposed FDA’s proposed food safety rules may be found on United Fresh’s Website.