FDA starts on-farm inspections in Oregon

Federal inspectors will soon venture onto Oregon farms to ensure compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act for the first time since it became law in 2011. This spring, FDA inspectors are beginning routine on-farm inspections of large operations — those earning more than $500,000 in annual revenue — that grow produce meant to be consumed raw. The agency’s goal is to “educate before and while we regulate” during this initial round of inspections, though officials would take action to stop an imminent threat to public health, said Kate Allen, an FDA investigator. When notified of an upcoming FDA visit, farmers should ask about the extent of the inspection, such as how long it will last and what will be examined, he said. “Try to set some parameters or understand their parameters.”If inspectors take samples of crops or water, growers should ask them to retain portions for future testing or collect their own specimens, Evans said.