Microbiological food safety of fresh produce: emerging global concerns and economic implications
2001
Garcia, M.M. (SEAMEO Food Safety Network, Food Development Center (Philippines))
With the current emphasis on improved, healthy diet and nutrition, the demand and consumption of fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables have dramatically risen. Recent epidemiological data show disturbing trends of increasing morbidity and mortality associated with eating fresh produce contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. In some cases, the magnitude of these outbreaks rival those associated with eating fresh produce contaminated meat and dairy products. As a result, many advanced countries have tightened their domestic and import regulations on fresh produce. The microbial culprits include emerging foodborne pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium and hepatitis. Although many of these can be controlled or reduced through various interventions in most postharvest processing operations, the same pathogens may survive or persist readily in certain fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables. New technologies in response to the evolving consumer demand for more diversified fresh produce (e.g. organic and natural foods), and to extend the shelf-life of these products have been introduced. While reducing the spoilage organisms, these technologies may provide, on the other hand, favorable conditions for pathogen survival and growth. This difficulty of eliminating pathogens in fresh and minimally processed foods has given rise to the development of microbial risk assessments in produce and a call for a "farm-to-table" food safety strategy. A significant feature of this approach is to move the hazard control steps upstream, at the pre-harvest or production stage of the food chain, which also impact on environmental contamination. Together with greater demands for maintaining clean environment in agriculture, a holistic approach to food safety throughout the food chain has emerged. How this approach can be integrated into effective policies and implemented to facilitate global trade remains a daunting, albeit, exciting challenge
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Este registro bibliográfico ha sido proporcionado por University of the Philippines at Los Baños