The EU sprout sector – scope & practices
The EU sprout sector –
scope & practices
SCOFCAH – Biological safety of the food chain
SCOFCAH –
Biological safety of the food chain
12 July 2011
Rob Baan
Cor Hurkx
Cor Hurkx
Frédéric Rosseneu
Content
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•
•
•
Definition of sprouts & cress
Definition
of sprouts & cress
Information about the sprout sector
Food safety before and after EHEC‐outbreak
Necessary next steps
Sprossen
The Confusion
Segmentation
• USA
– Wet sprouts
– Green Sprouts
Green Sprouts
• Europe
E
– Sprouts
– Cress
Mung Bean Sprouts
g
p
Tauge
“Soja”
Soja Sprossen
Sprossen
S i lt S
Specialty Sprouts
t
Alfalfa, Radish Sprouts, Broccoli Sprouts, Red Beet Sprouts, G li S
Garlic Sprouts, Leek Sprouts, Adzuki sprouts
t L kS
t Ad ki
t
Cress (Garden cress, Tuinkers, Kresse)
Shoots (Skott) Serious sector in Europe
Serious sector in Europe
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Turnover estimate 150‐200 m € ex farm
M k value
Market
l 500 m €
500 € at consumer level
l l
NL 50 m €
DE
30 m €
30 m €
FR 15 m €
UK
UK 40 m €
40 m €
Others 35 m €
• Mung Bean Sprouts
p
y Sprouts
p
• Specialty
• Cress (total)
50 m €
70 m €
50 m €
Impact for the sector
Impact for the sector
• About
About 100 players
100 players
• Employment over 2.000 FTE
• Some companies have no sales others are 60% S
i h
l
h
60%
down
• Supermarkets refuse product based on negative EFSA advise
Food safety before & after EHEC outbreak
Food safety before & after EHEC outbreak • Approximately
Approximately 100 companies active in 100 companies active in
producing sprouts and cresses all over Europe (See attachment 1).
• Most of these companies operate with high professional standards
professional standards.
• Not
Not all companies have the same level of all companies have the same level of
professionalism.
4 routes for human pathogens to infect vegetables (not just sprouts):
infect vegetables (not just sprouts):
•
•
•
•
Via seed
Via water
Via water
Via substrate / fertilizer
Via employees
=>All routes need utmost attention to prevent contamination with human pathogens in every vegetable producing company.
=>In case of sprouted vegetables the seed is also the food, therefore this route must be controlled with extra care.
=>Sufficient sampling and a strict positive release procedure
g
can control this route.
before usage of the seed
Existing situation before EHEC:
• No control within the sprout sector for EHEC O104:H4 – (others like O157:H7 by many growers already tested.)
• Positive release before usage of seed concerning human pathogens not standard procedure for all growers.
• Many growers within Europe certified with food safety standards but not all of them.
Desirable new situation after EHEC
Desirable new situation after EHEC
• Systematic monitoring of EHEC (STX1 and y
g
(
STX2) at all companies alongside monitoring of other human pathogens.
• All sprouting companies install positive release procedure before usage of seed based on
procedure before usage of seed based on substantiated sampling method.
• All sprout growers subject to independent reliable auditing.
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Progress so far:
Progress so far:
• Groups
Groups of sprout growers in several Member of sprout growers in several Member
States have committed themselves now to implement the desired situation.
• A so called Minimal Best Practice is already operational in the Netherlands.
• In other Member States initiatives to meet the Desirable New Situation are in full progress.
What actions does Freshfel propose to this Committee:
Immediately:
1) Explicit support to the Freshfel initiative for the European sprout industry:
‐ Support
pp the food safety standard label which the sprout y
p
industry will introduce this summer
‐ Communicate to the market that this label is significantly enhancing food safety of sprouted vegetables.
Simultaneously:
2) Introduce a Community guide on GHP for sprout growing
2) Introduce a Community guide on GHP for sprout growing
‐ Stimulate exchange of expertise between EU‐agencies on food safety (e.g. EFSA) and sprout industry
Communication – status negative consumption advice
Since this advice there have been some developments:
p
• Sprouting industry is at this stage better known by the competent authorities in the member states.
A review of the routing of seeds and of the companies
• A review of the routing of seeds and of the companies involved has been made.
• Ongoing forward tracing for specific lots of fenugreek seeds which are under suspicion.
which are under suspicion.
• Is there still any basis for a general negative advice for all
sprouted vegetables?
sprouted vegetables?
• What actions are necessary to withdraw the general negative consumption advice of raw sprouted vegetables? By whom?
www.freshfel.org
g
www.enjoyfresh.eu
www.freshquality.org