From a June 2024 US salmonella outbreak that led to hospitalizations in 34 states linked to cucumbers to Europe-wide Salmonella cases traced to contaminated lettuce, the issue of food safety has gained prominence in recent months, keeping this all-important topic ever-present in consumers' minds. "Unfortunately, for all the homogenization that has taken place across the produce sector over the decades, food safety practices still vary wildly across continents and countries and ensuring their effectiveness can still be a struggle", says Benjamin Singh from Food Freshly in Bielefeld (Germany), specialized in innovative freshness retainer for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables.
"In the foodborne illness outbreaks in Europe and the US, the fresh produce identified as the source was very likely to have undergone some form of disinfectant wash. Even so, in both instances, dangerous bacteria were found to be present, which sickened and, in some cases, hospitalized people. The lesson we can take from these incidents is that there is never 100% control. You can only try to improve processes and keep your washing lines clean if you are using disinfectants, but there's never a 100% guarantee."
But aside from the image and reputation side of doing business, there is also a strong financial argument for ensuring optimum food safety, Singh continues. "If you're not convinced, run a recall test. What's it going to cost to recall one pallet, two pallets, or half a truckload? Receiving a rejection from a customer is every produce company's nightmare. You are not only going to get paid for the product, you're also going to have to discard it. You also may have to reimburse the client for the product."
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.comBenjamin Singh (l) and his colleagues of Food Freshly at this year's Fruit Logistica.
"Everyone knows that a tremendous amount of money is involved, and it's also a strong and compelling argument for the importance of getting food safety right. We also see a lot of countries in Asia that still have problems with food safety, which impedes exports to Europe or the US. Countries such as India may produce a lot of fruits and vegetables, but they are still not able to export to the extent they might wish."
The use of disinfectant agents and chlorine washes is well-established in many countries as a means of limiting the spread of potentially deadly bacteria, but even these methods are not foolproof and have significant disadvantages not connected to food safety. Singh: "For many companies, chlorine is seen as a necessity, but it can come with major drawbacks. It could be the pure smell while using it, the exposure for the workers – including the risk of a toxic environment if it's not carefully controlled – and of course there is the big topic of the residues that may remain on the fruits and vegetables."
Although chlorine is not as toxic as one might think (after all, we all swim in pools treated with chlorine), the potential problem lies with residues. "Certain chemicals are formed during the chlorine treatment process that no-one wants to have in their food, and produce companies always have to test final products for unwanted residues. You may be getting rid of microbial bacteria, but what about all these potential chemical residues that have been caused by the food safety measures that may stick to the produce? This causes another headache for producers."
Thinking in unconventional ways
Pesticide residues have, in some cases, been to blame for export restrictions in Asia, and the same may well be true for regions of Africa. Singh: "We've seen signs over recent years that African growers are entering the fresh-cut fruit category in Europe, and ensuring food safety by embracing new methods is going to ultimately help to increase that business. As seen with Food Freshly's new Produce Wash system, we believe that improvements in food safety practices can be achieved by thinking in unconventional ways and looking beyond traditional post-harvest chemicals. Such an approach can deliver dividends for everyone involved in the produce supply chain - from the growers and the workers in the packhouse through to retailers and consumers."
For more information:
Benjamin Singh
FOOD freshly AFC GmbH
Tel: +49 521 - 96 8787 15
info@food-freshly.eu
www.food-freshly.eu