Webinar on Basic Mushroom Growing, Harvesting, Holding, and Packing Activities Under the Produce Safety Rule August 6, 2024

Meeting | Virtual

• Date: August 6, 2024
• Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

The FDA hosted a webinar on basic mushroom growing, harvesting, holding, and packing activities under the Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Part 112.1.

Background

The Produce Safety rule established, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The final rule went into effect January 26, 2016.

The webinar focused on information around growing, harvesting, packing and holding practices for the most common types of mushrooms, white and button. Due to recent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses linked to specialty mushrooms internationally and FDA’s Strategies to Help Prevent Listeriosis and Salmonellosis Outbreaks Associated with Imported Enoki and Imported Wood Ear Mushrooms, specialty mushrooms will also be covered during the presentation. 

Guest speakers included:

• Kristin Esch, Produce Safety Expert, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), FDA (Moderator)
• John Pecchia Ph.D., Mushroom Research Center and Spawn Laboratory in the Department of Plant Pathology, Penn State University
• Maria Gorgo-Simcox, Food Safety, IPM and Water Quality Extension Educator & Affiliate Instructor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Penn State University
• Wendy Read, Food Safety Inspector, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture