Preharvest water protocol for leafy greens safety

Recent outbreaks in the US of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of romaine lettuce and other leafy greens have highlighted the need for a viable option for treating agricultural water against foodborne pathogens.

While farmers are not required to treat their agricultural water, these treatments could be a valuable tool to help farmers protect the safety of their produce intended for consumers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now announced a new protocol for the development and registration of antimicrobial treatments for preharvest agricultural water, such as the water used in farm irrigation systems. The protocol was developed through a collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA-approved protocol can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in reducing microbial contamination in agricultural water.

“This new protocol is a huge milestone for produce safety and for the Leafy Green Action Plan released by the FDA earlier this year. Working together, the FDA and EPA have supported the development of this protocol that may ultimately help farmers address contamination issues in their water sources and protect consumers from foodborne illness,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas.

EPA’s approval of this protocol allows for companies to develop data on the effectiveness of their products in inactivating foodborne bacteria, such as E. coli or Salmonella, in preharvest agricultural water. Companies may use the data developed to support registration of new treatment products, or amendments to current products’ labels, for use against microbial contamination in preharvest agricultural water.

There currently are no registered antimicrobial treatment products that are authorised for use on agricultural fields, or for treatment of irrigation water systems or ponds. This protocol is an important step towards addressing this lack of available treatments for preharvest agricultural water.

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