Farmers and consumers both responsible for food safety

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Food safety is always of upmost importance, especially when a national pandemic is going on.

Amanda Deering, who is a clinical associate professor for the Food Science Department at Purdue University and a lead team member of the Safe Produce Indiana program, said there are several things that both farmers and consumers can do to ensure food safety.

As farmers participate in winter markets, they need to remember to make sure they are implementing good food safety practices, Deering said. In particular, she said, they always need to wash their produce before taking it to market or for consumption.

Deering said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has put out guidance about washing produce, which includes running it under cool water. If it’s a cantaloupe, in particular, producers should use a clean veggie brush to get the dirt and other residues off the hard surfaces.

When it comes to the consumer side of things when purchasing produce such as root vegetables, even though they are washed on farms, consumers should still wash the produce when they get home because one never knows how many other people have touched the produce before you.

Another food safety practice, Deering explained, is storing food and produce in the refrigerator because it helps slow the growth of harmful bacteria.

“We have one of the safest food supplies in the world,” she stressed.

Deering said it is important for individuals who grow fruit and vegetables to do their part and implement food safety practices so consumers continue to frequent farmers markets and purchase produce and other goods.