Posted December 3, 2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an exemption from the Food Safety Modernization Act rules for a few produce items, according to an article by The Packer available here. The exemption would apply to produce which is typically not consumed raw.
Officials from the California almond industry believe they should be included in the exemption, since a federal marketing order requires that “nearly all shelled almonds sold must first undergo an approved kill step.”
Peanuts and all tree nuts would fall under the FSMA’s produce rule, said Julie Adams, vice president of global technology and regulatory affairs for the Modesto-based Almond Board of California.
Adams also said that the FSMA classifies huller-shellers as a “food facility,” but the industry considers huller-shellers part of a farming operation and should be classified under the grower rules.
Since 2007, almond handlers have been required to use a process including roasting, blanching, or pasteurization to reduce bacteria, which Adams says “provides an equivalent set of procedures that also provide the level of consumer protection that the FDA is concerned about.”
For more information on food safety, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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