Reactions to the Food and Drug Administration ’s proclamation of its long - expect Food Safety Modernization Act rules have been across the spectrum . Food - safety expert are hopeful about the food - system controls that are being put into place . But some farmers , like Judith McGeary , founder and executive director of theFarm and Ranch Freedom Alliance , say the FDA ’s final rule for farms that raise produce for human consumption will hurt the local intellectual nourishment effort . And others , like Baylen J. Linnekin , the executive managing director of Keep Food Legal Foundation , only do n’t see the point .
FSMA has seven section , but the one that is of most interest to small - exfoliation James Leonard Farmer is theProduce Safety Rule . ThePew Charitable Trustsexplains this in forgetful :
“ Under the new requisite , companies that grow or handle fresh garden truck will have to take measures to ward against contamination throughout their supply string . … The goal is to dramatically decrease the likelihood that food - borne pathogens , such as salmonella andE. coli , reach market shelves and kitchens across the nation . ”
Does FSMA Apply To Your Farm?
If you have a farm that derives more than one-half of its income from lineal merchandising and an a income of $ 500,000 or less per year , you arenotsubject to FSMA rulesand can carry on as normal . This income limit includes all farm income — bring about , kernel , et cetera . This boundary is a huge help to little - plate Fannie Farmer who would lawfully be put out of business by some of the FSMA rules .
As McGeary point out , though , putting the half - million - dollar terminal point on all farm income — instead of just the produce that is the focus of FSMA — has its downside .
“ In practical terms , this rule pressures grain and livestock farmers to void variegation , harming farmers financially and deter environmentally responsible nation use , ” she sound out . “ From a food - safety point of view , it does n’t make good sense to treat the humble - scale production of produce the same as large - scale yield simply because the same mortal is producing other types of food for thought , as well . ”
What FSMA Means For Produce Farmers
Produce farmer and handlers now have a scheme of internal standards aimed at preventing contaminant from source , such as agricultural urine , manure used to fertilize crops , wild animals , farm worker , equipment and cock . The rules are extensive , and this web log entry is by no substance a comprehensive look at them . betting odds are very respectable that ag brass in your state , as well as your DoS ag department and local cooperative telephone extension , are developing materials tohelp you deal with FSMAon your farm .
To be honest , I think many of the rules are fairly common sentience . I do agree that a few , includingirrigation - pee examination requirements , are more vaulting than necessary . And one FSMA item that worries me is the ability of a local FDA official to countermand a Fannie Farmer ’s granting immunity if the official claim there were condition at the farm that lay a risk of solid food - borne illness . It devote the FDA all-encompassing discretion — and who know really what an FDA employee might see a risk ?
How We Got Here
Every year , an estimated one in six people in the U.S. falls sick from solid food and 3,000 dice , according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Now that the FDA has finalized its rules , it ’s up to the U.S. government to pony up the backing . As you might imagine , training FDA staff , bringing Farmer up to f number and ensuring compliance from farms is go to cost a second of money—$109.5 million , consort to the FDA .
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition offersits thoughtful reviewof FSMA . I recommend the read !
