The Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA), a public-private alliance, develops a core curriculum, training and outreach programs for stakeholders in the sprout production community to enhance the industry's understanding and implementation of the requirements in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, and best practices for improving sprout safety.
SSA News
SSA Training Curriculum
The SSA Training Curriculum version 1.0 was finalized. It is 449 pages long, including 12 chapters, the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and related documents, and 43 sample documents. This version was used in the SSA Train-The-Trainer pilot course on August 30 - September 1, 2016.
Upcoming SSA Training Program
The SSA is launching training programs. Extension Specialists of Land-Grand Universities, State Training Directors/Managers, consultants or anyone who is interested in becoming a SSA Lead Instructor are invited to participate in SSA Train-The-Trainer courses.
For more information about SSA training, please click here.
Webinar "Upcoming SSA Training" Hosted by the SSA
The Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) hosted a webinar "Upcoming SSA Training" to the SSA Education/Outreach Working Group and potential SSA trainers on July 15, 2016. Dr. Kaiping Deng, Co-Lead of the Sprout Safety Alliance, provided an overview of the SSA curriculum and update on trainer development process. Dr. Michelle Smith, Senior Policy Analyst from FDA, provided an overview of FDA regulatory inspection training. Please click the link below for the presentation and its recording:
Webinar Upcoming SSA Training
Listen to a recording of the webinar.
FDA Webinar Hosted by SSA
The Sprout Safety Alliance (SSA) hosted a FDA webinar "Final Rule for Produce Safety: Key Provisions in the Rule" on January 14, 2016. Dr. Annemarie Buchholz, Co-Lead of the Sprout Safety Alliance, and Consumer Safety Officer with Division of Produce Safety at CFSAN/FDA, provided an overview of the finalized FDA Produce Safety Rule, specifying on requirements for spout growers. Please click the link below for the presentation:
Upcoming SSA Training Program
The SSA Educational/Outreach Working Group is developing a sprout safety training program. Extension Specialists of Land-Grand Universities, Training Directors/Managers from individual states, consultants are welcomed to join the working group, to discuss projected training materials and protocols. Please contact the SSA if you are interested.
News on FDA Rules
The final FSMA Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Produce Safety Rule) has been released!
Having questions on the FDA Produce Safety Rule?
Please submit your inquiry through this link: https://cfsan.secure.force.com/Inquirypage/
FDA's Strategy for FSMA Training has published The Preventive Controls Rules for Human Food and Animal Food
More information is listed under the Government Resources Link.
SSA'S Accomplishments
SSA Training Curriculum Version 1.0 Finalized- 2016
SSA-FDA Webinar -2016
The SSA hosted a FDA webinar “Final Rule for Produce Safety: Key Provisions in the Rule” on January 14, 2016.
SSA-FDA Webinar -2015
The SSA hosted a FDA webinar “Implementing the Produce Rule” following a brief presentation about the SSA overview and progress on May 22, 2015.
SSA Focus Group Meeting
Chicago, IL – Dec 2015: The SSA hosted a focus group meeting for Chicago local sprout growers to: (1) discuss about four key chapters of the SSA curriculum (Spent Irrigation Water Testing, Environmental Monitoring for Listeria, Recordkeeping Procedure and FDA Finalized Produce Safety Rule Outline) and some example SOPs and forms; and (2) obtain feedback from sprout growers, inspectors and food safety trainers on training materials and format. Fourteen individuals representing sprout growers, Illinois and Indiana state regulators, feral inspectors and university extension specialists participated in the meeting.
SSA Pilot Training/Feedback Sessions
- Vancouver, BC -- Aug 2012
- Chicago, IL -- Feb 2013
- Washington DC -- Oct 2013
- Richmond, CA -- Aug 2014
FDA honors SSA with Award!
Participants in the SSA were recognized at the 53rd Annual FDA Honor Awards Ceremony with the Group Recognition Award. This award recognizes “superior achievement of the Agency’s mission through teamwork, partnership, shared responsibility, or fostering collaboration and coalition to achieve FDA goals.” The development of the training programs and curriculum is a truly collaborative effort between the sprout industry, academia and federal, state and local government representatives, and the SSA team is honored to be recognized for their hard work.
For more details about SSA Accomplishment, please Click here.