Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA
  1. CDFA Home
  2. Planting Seeds Blog
  3. Category Archives: Food Safety

Category Archives: Food Safety

Food Safety Workshops for California’s Artisan Cheese Makers

October 25, 2012   Dr. Annette Jones, California State Veterinarian

Consumers in general and Californians in particular are showing new and enthusiastic interest in their food – where it comes from, who makes it, and how it is made. Farmers have responded with a renewed devotion to agricultural products that fill not just supermarket produce aisles, but also a growing number of niche demands – while maintaining a food supply …

Read More
Posted in Food Safety | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hearings underway on egg regulations with food safety focus

October 11, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

Food safety is of paramount importance to California farmers and to us at the Calfiornia Department of Food and Agricutlure (CDFA). We are constantly striving to work with farmers, consumers, scientists and others to make sure outbreaks are mitigated through effective communication, and that investment is made in research that can prevent outbreaks in the first place. As part of …

Read More
Posted in Food Safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

CDFA to Offer Food Safety Training for California’s Small Farms

October 10, 2012   CDFA Staff

California’s farmers are as diverse as the crops they grow. The safety of the food their farms produce is paramount. To make sure smaller farmers can take advantage of a comprehensive approach to food safety, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)  has developed resources and training with the particular needs of smaller operations in mind. The program, called the Small Farm Food Safety Project, is …

Read More
Posted in Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Food Safety, Specialty Crops | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Statement from Secretary Ross on Food Safety Efforts by California Cantaloupe Growers

August 20, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

You may have heard about recent illnesses and two deaths linked to cantaloupe grown in southwestern Indiana. I am very concerned to learn about the severity of this outbreak. My heart goes out to those affected and their loved ones. All of agriculture and the food-supply chain have a responsibility to protect people from food-borne illness, and I am determined to …

Read More
Posted in Food Safety, Specialty Crops | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Of Canadian geese, worker training and record-keeping – building a culture of food safety on the farm

June 13, 2012   Scott Horsfall, CEO, Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement

Last week, a group of Canadian food writers and bloggers, accompanied by staff of the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA), toured two leafy greens fields and a processing facility in the Salinas area. The group was there as part of an innovative block grant program – a partnership between the LGMA and CDFA designed to raise awareness …

Read More
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Safety, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

From USDA: Update from APHIS Regarding a Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States

May 21, 2012   CDFA Staff

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/bse_update_statement.shtml On  April 24, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed  the nation’s 4th case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal  that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California.  This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no  time presented a risk to the food supply, or …

Read More
Posted in BSE, Food Safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

From the Packer – California cantaloupe growers back mandatory food safety

May 17, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/California-growers-back-mandatory-cantaloupe-food-safety-151781935.html In the wake of a listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupes from another state, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board is establishing the state’s first mandatory food safety program implemented by a commodity board. The group is also expanding its territory statewide. “Imperial Valley growers have not been part of the board before,” John Gilstrap, California Cantaloupe Advisory Board manager, said …

Read More
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Food Safety | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Still the People’s Agency 150 Years Later – Happy Birthday, USDA!

May 15, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

For producers and consumers of food, this is a sesquicentennial like no other. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act, the single piece of legislation that laid the foundation for the modern agricultural marvel we enjoy today. And now, it’s the 150th birthday of the USDA – as Abraham Lincoln called it, …

Read More
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Marketing, Alternative Fuels, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Climate Change, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Environment, Farm Bill, Farmers' Markets, Food Access, Food Safety, Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, HLB, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Invasive Species, Pierce's Disease, Specialty Crops, Trade, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Capital Public Radio – Raw milk, healthy or hazardous?

May 2, 2012   Office of Public Affairs

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/05/02/raw-milk-healthy-or-hazardous Milk, in its unpasteurized form is consumed by at least a hundred thousand Californians. Many believe the drink has special health benefits. In California, there are two main ways to get raw milk. You can buy it at a local health food store, or you can find an unlicensed cow owner willing to share the milk. Someone like Pattie …

Read More
Posted in Dairy, Food Safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

State Vet Dr. Annette Whiteford Named Chair of National Institute of Animal Agriculture

April 2, 2012   Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary, and Linda

One of the best things about the California Department of Food and Agriculture is the talented group of people who work here. We have dedicated public servants with deep expertise in their chosen fields and a passion for making our state a better place. We are fortunate that many of our senior employees are placed in positions of national leadership. …

Read More
Posted in AG Vision, Agricultural Education, Animal Welfare, Community-based Food System, Dairy, Food Access, Food Safety, Trade | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment