SSA News

• SSA Webinar:

  Testing Requirements for Sprout Operations, November 15, 2019.
  Presentation Audio File: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3392426982326274305

• SSA-ISGA Webinar:

  Is Listeria under Control in Your Sprout or Microgreen Operation?, September 30, 2019.
  Presentation Audio File: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7018401924813121793 

• SSA Sprout Grower 2-day Training in Spanish:

  The SSA Sprout Grower 2-day Training in Spanish was conducted on January 8-9, 2019 in San Fernando CA. The next Spanish course will be scheduled upon request.

• Launch of the SSA Sprout Grower Training Blended Course:

  On December 14, 2017, SSA launched the SSA Sprout Grower Training Blended Course.  This course was developed to provide an alternative way for individuals to complete the SSA Sprout Grower Training course. It consists of two parts. Part 1 is online and Part 2 is a one-day instructor-led course. For upcoming SSA trainings, please click here. 

• SSA Training Curriculum Second Edition Available for Free Download:

  Safer Sprout Production for Produce Safety Rule ComplianceThis training manual is also available for purchase from the FSPCA Bookstore website.

• SSA Technical Assistance Network (TAN):

  SSA TAN was created for individuals to submit a sprout safety related technical question to the SSA Food Safety Experts. 

News on FDA Rules and Guidance

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to establish a laboratory accreditation program for food testing as required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.  This proposed rule outlines the procedures and standards that accreditation bodies and laboratories would need to follow to participate in the program, as well as procedures for how FDA would manage and oversee the program.  The proposed rule would help ensure that certain food testing of importance to public health produces reliable and valid test results, and, in turn, improve FDA’s capability to protect U.S. consumers from unsafe food. (Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/11/04/2019-23870/laboratory-accreditation-for-analyses-of-foods)

• The FDA issued draft guidance to provide recommendations to those in the sprout seed industry to help reduce food safety hazards in the production of seed used for sprouting.  This guidance, titled "Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting," is intended to provide food safety recommendations for those that grow, condition, pack, hold or distribute seed for sprouting.

• EPA has granted conditional approval for the use of Clorox (Active Ingredient: Sodium Hypochlorite, 6%) to treat alfalfa seed for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella (EPA Registration 5813-111  and EPA Registration 5813-114). 

• FDA has determined that specific methods are “scientifically valid” and “at least equivalent to the method of analysis in § 112.151(a) in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity” in detecting or quantifying generic Escherichia coli in agricultural water, Listeria species or L. monocytogenes in environmental samples, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in spent sprout irrigation water or sprout samples.

• Having questions on the FDA Produce Safety Rule? Please visit the FDA FSMA Technical Assistance Network (TAN) webpage and submit your inquiry through this link: https://cfsan.secure.force.com/Inquirypage/

SSA Training Accomplishments

For more details about SSA Accomplishments, please click here.