The Food and Drug Administration is recommending water assessments for farms as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas says there have been far too many foodborne illness outbreaks possibly linked to pre-harvest agricultural water in recent years and, if finalized, they’re confident the proposal would result in fewer outbreaks in the U.S. related to produce.
If adopted, the proposal would require farms to manage water based on an ag water assessment, expand mitigation measures for hazards near land to protect water quality, and make additional requirements.
