In our previous post about food safety at farmers markets, we ended our discussion by noting that current regulations try to balance the needs of both farmers and consumers. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) excludes many small farmers from intensive restrictions to protect their economic interests. On the other hand, federal agencies recognize that many farmers and market managers do in fact implement their...

Written by SmartSense | June 8, 2018 | Food Safety

Finally, it feels like spring all over the country. Farmers markets are opening their stalls to customers who are hungry for local and organic fruits and vegetables. Goodbye to tasteless tomatoes and dry melons at the supermarket, and hello to heirloom apples and fresh-picked corn from family farms.

Written by SmartSense | May 31, 2018 | Food Safety

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been an important source of nutrition for public school children and has provided business opportunities to the food industry for more than 70 years. For the last few generations, NSLP has been taken for granted, but over the last decade, advocates of the program have had to defend its costs and policies, struggling to keep it viable and dealing with controversies ranging...

Written by SmartSense | May 22, 2018 | Food Safety

With headlines announcing foodborne illness outbreaks almost weekly, it’s pretty much common knowledge to those in the food industry that just one negative event at a restaurant can result in devastating losses including money, market share, and brand reputation. Now, with a recent study from Johns Hopkins University, research data not only confirms these common sense fears, but provides financial calculation of the...

Written by SmartSense | May 17, 2018 | Food Safety

As you may have read in the news recently, an outbreak of Escherichia coli, more commonly referred to as E. coli, has affected states all across the nation. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, and actually provide a benefit to our gut, but there are some strains that can cause illness. Primarily transferred through fecal matter, E. coli can spread through manure, infecting both vegetables and meats alike. Close to...

Written by SmartSense | May 7, 2018 | Food Safety, Supply Chain

As we all know, outbreaks of foodborne illness have become newsroom fodder throughout the last few years. They make great headlines: Everyone eats, and most everyone eats prepared foods. It’s no wonder the public takes great interest in following these stories.

Written by SmartSense | May 1, 2018 | Food Safety, Supply Chain