Food Safety Auditing: An Industry in Transition

Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain

United Fresh Produce Association recently released the updated version of the Food Safety Programs & Auditing Protocol for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain, commonly known as the “Tomato Metrics.” These metrics were initially developed in 2009, endeavoring to harmonize food safety audit standards for the fresh tomato supply chain. It was this original effort that led to the development of the Produce GAPs Harmonized Standard.

The Tomato Working Group recommended a new structure for the Tomato Metrics in which tomato operations will use the Harmonized Standard (or other similar GAP audit) as the base food safety protocol, with the Tomato Metrics added as an industry-specific addendum. With the revision, the Tomato Metrics are limited to areas that are either unique to the tomato industry, or not necessarily unique, but not currently in the Harmonized Standards.

This update of the Tomato Metrics corresponds with the September 2018 publication of the Tomato Guidelines, 3rd ed. Together, these resources provide in-depth information and auditing protocols for the recommended food safety practices intended to minimize the microbiological hazards associated with fresh and fresh-cut tomato products.

“We hope that the new format of these metrics will encourage continued use of these standards, achieving our ultimate goal of food safety standard harmonization, and reduced audit fatigue among produce growing and handling operations,” says Emily Griep, manager of food safety, United Fresh.

The Tomato Guidelines can be downloaded for free by visiting www.unitedfresh.org.—FQ&S