# Presentation: 086574

## Sprout Safety

**Kean Ashurst – Caudill Seed Inc.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Contents:

**3 – 4        Introduction**
**5              Seed Washing & Sanitizing**
**6 -13       Evaluation of the Program and Results**
**14 – 15   Current Status **
**16 – 17   Other Sources of Contamination**
**18 – 21  Combating Other Sources of Contamination**
**22          Summary**
**23          Importance of Sprouts**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Alternate Seed Sanitation Methods and Results of Field Applications

-      Before we proceed, we must modify our collective thinking regarding three areas:
- _Seed Sanitation needs to be redefined in terms of Seed Washing._
- _The sprouting seed must be considered a raw agricultural product and must be dealt with accordingly._
- _There are other sources of contamination to be considered and controlled for Total Quality Management of Sprout Production._

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

**Notes:**
Once we 

## Alternate Seed Sanitation Methods and Results of Field Applications

-  In addition, the _objective_ of this project has been not to derail the positive impact that chlorine has had on reducing food borne pathogen outbreaks, but to provide a science-based approach for alternate solutions to all segments of the sprouting industry. And make positive additions to the process.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Seed Washing and Sanitizing

-     When was the last time you got 50 pounds of clothes clean stuffed in a nylon bag and submerged for 25 min in water with astringent detergent dip ?
-     Well it does not work with seed either.
-     I am sure that the above was not the intent of Guidance's.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

##  Evaluation Program

- Working with Dr. Rajkowski-USDA/ARS since the summer of 2004, we collectively developed an evaluation program of current and available process for reducing seed contamination. Caudill Seed would provide the seed and the USDA/ARS would provide controlled inoculated seed packets for testing. The initial findings were presented in an October 2004  meeting with FDA/CFSAN.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Evaluation Program (cont.)

**We revisited:**
**Irradiation **
**E-Beam Technology**
**Heat Treatment of Seed**
**Ozone Gas Treatment**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Evaluation Program (cont.)

- Irradiation and E-Beam technology resulted in poor germination, unacceptable end product quality (sprouts), consumer acceptance issues and ignored the needs of _Organic Processors,_ a large segment of the industry. Heat Treatment rapidly aged the seed and temperatures between 145°F-147°F could only be achieved consistently in a fluid bed dryer. Ozone Gas treatment showed some promising results and did not affect the flavor or texture of the sprouts but it failed as a stand alone process.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Evaluation Program (cont.)

**Because of the results achieved with Ozone Gas Treatments ( 1-Log Kill with up to a 2-Log injury in controlled humidity conditions), we immediately adopted a two-step process using a quality sanitizer from an established company. Tsunami-100 manufactured by ECOLAB was selected. Tsunami-100 was tested in combination with Ozone Gas Treatments and the results were as expected.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Evaluation Program (cont.)

**“****We Got a Winner”**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Evaluation Program (cont.)

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Effective Washing Implementation 

**Effective Agitation of the seed is required for adequate wash.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Washing & Sanitizing Seed

**Note rolling action of seed.**

**Note debris removed from the seed.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Current Status of Program

- One Sprout Processor is currently using Gaseous/Ozone seed in conjunction Tsunami-100 with this washing system on a test basis.
- Dr. Rajkowski-USDA/ARS will be receiving & evaluating a full scale system in 14 days at the research facility in Wyndmoor, PA.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Current Status of Program (cont.)

- Caudill Seed will be requesting an expansion of this program through the Pre-Market Approval Process.
- The Processor will be requesting with your assistance  approval for a 3% application usage of Tsunami-100.
- Caudill Seed will be recommending a science based continuous improvement program on seed washing and sanitization.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Other Sources of contamination

- The following slide has been previously distributed to some members of this audience. It is not all encompassing but it stimulates thought and provides a transition to the next phase of this presentation.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## CAUSES OF FOOD PATHOGEN OUTBREAKS IN SPROUTS

**CONSUMER ILLNESS**

**SEED CONTAMINATION**

** ****SPROUT PRODUCTION IN CHAMBER**

**WASHING PACKAGING/SHIPING**

**CAUSES OF FOOD PATHOGEN OUTBREAKS IN SPROUTS**

- WATER TEMPERATURE/product NOT BELOW 40F

- POOR/NO SANITIZER

- HARVESTING PROCEDURES

- WATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION

- AIR QUALITY IN GROWING CHAMBER

- STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION

- PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING SEED from FIELD

-  FIELD GROWING CONDITIONS

- TEMPERATURE ABUSE Of PRODUCT

- EMPLOYEE PRACTICES

- CONSTRUCTION

- NO QA/QC PROGRAMS

**FACILITY CONDITIONS**

- SEED NOT WASH & SANITIZED

- PRODUCT AND EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC

- EQUIPMENT CONDITION AND DESIGN

- NO STANDARDS OF IDENTITY

**NO REGULATIONS**

- NO HACCP(REAL)

**INDUSTRY/REGULATORY-CO-OP**

- SIGNWAVE SANITATION

**NO REGULATIONS**

**NO REGULATIONS**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## To Combat other Sources of Contamination

- We have made available automated CIP systems for growing chambers.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

**We have made available a point of use water purification system for each growing chamber. This additional feature incorporates a 10****μ**** spiral wound pre-filter and a 0.5μ carbon block filter with a UV light @ 254nmeters.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

**Air intake systems for the growing**
** ****chamber are equipped with dual**
** ****wavelength UV lights that react **
**to created hydroxyl radicals ( OH**** ̄)**
** ****these radicals serve to sanitize**
** ****the air and increase phytochemical**
**production**** ****and enhance the immune**
**system of the emerging sprout.**
**References: Slide 21 and attached to**
**disk.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

**References:**
**J. R. Vig – Treatise on Cleaning Surfaces-(1987) – US Army Electronics Technology Laboratory-Monmouth, NJ.**
**D. Vom Endt, et al – Transcription Factors Controlling Secondary Metabolism: What Regulates the Regulators?-(2002) - Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Wassenaaseweg 64, The Netherlands.**
**O. Lamikanra – Food Processing & Sensory Quality, USDA/ARS Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA.**
**R. Bostock, et al – Induced ISR against Pathogens in the context of Induced Plant Defences-(2002)-Annals of Botany-Department of Plant Pathology, University of California-Davis**
**Additional information and findings are attached to this disk.**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## In Summary 

- It is our goal at Caudill Seed to provide the industry with the best available technology (BAT) and to assist the processor with their food safety needs.
- In addition, there are numerous valid ideas brought forth by others responsible parties in this forum that need serious consideration.

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005

## Importance of Sprouts

**Sprouts add critical micronutrients to our daily diet and can continue to do so only if the Food Safety concerns are solved and controlled through responsible suppliers, producers and well defined regulations.**
**             ****vitamin C                                          lutein                                            sulforphane**

- FDA-USDA-Sprout Safety-2005