Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Study of Food Safety

Deliverable 2: Final Study

Contract Number: GS10F0155P

Order Number: D14PD01117

Submitted to:

USDA-RMA

COR: Wilma Davis

6501 Beacon Drive

Kansas City, Missouri 64133-6205

(816) 823-4131

Submitted by:

Watts and Associates, Inc.

4331 Hillcrest Road

Billings, Montana59101

(406) 252-7776

watts@wattsandassociates.com

Due Date: January 30, 2015

This document includes data that shall not be disclosed outside of the Government and shall not be duplicated, used, 

or disclosed, in whole or in part, for any purpose. The Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose 

the data to the extent provided in Contract Number: GS10F0155P Order No. D14PD01117. All pages of this 

document are subject to this restriction.
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i

Table of Contents

Section I. Executive Summary........................................................................................................ 1

Section II. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5

II.A. Agricultural Risk ................................................................................................................ 8

Section III. Existing Coverage...................................................................................................... 10

Section IV. “Uninsured” Crops..................................................................................................... 17

Section V. Stakeholder Input ........................................................................................................ 20

Section VI. Specialty Food Crop Recall Data .............................................................................. 22

Section VII. Impediments to Implementation............................................................................... 26

Section VIII. Summary of Findings.............................................................................................. 37

List of Tables

Table 1. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: APH Plan.......................................... 13

Table 2. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: ARH Plan ......................................... 14

Table 3. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: Dollar Plan ....................................... 15

Table 4. The Frequency of Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Specialty Food 

Crops Recalls by Crop: 2002-2014 and 2012–2014 ...................................................... 24

Table 5. Specialty Food Crop Provisions Specifically Addressing Failure to Harvest 

in a Timely Manner as an Uninsurable Cause of Loss.................................................... 32

Table 6. Specialty Food Crop Provisions with a General Marketing Exclusion .......................... 33

List of Appendices

Appendix A. USDA AMS List of Specialty Crops

Appendix B. Specialty Food Crops with No Crop-specific FCIC Insurance.

Exhibit 1. Specialty Food Crops from the USDA AMS List with No Crop-specific FCIC 

Insurance Sorted by Crop Category

Exhibit 2. NASS Documented Specialty Food Crops Values from Crops with No Cropspecific FCIC Insurance

Appendix C. Listening Sessions

Exhibit 1. Grower Associations Contacted

Exhibit 2. Periodicals in which Listening Sessions Were Advertised

Exhibit 3. Sample Listening Session Advertisement

Exhibit 4. Press Release

Exhibit 5. Listening Session Agenda

Exhibit 6. Stakeholder Comments

Appendix D. Food Safety Recalls

Exhibit 1. Sample Recall Notices

Exhibit 2. State Food Safety Monitoring Agencies

Exhibit 3. Sample of Food Recall Notices: 2014

Exhibit 4. Recall Notices for Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Specialty Crop Foods: 

2012 through 2014

List of Attachments

Attachment I. Overcoming the Impediments to Implementation of Food Safety and 

Contamination Issues Coverage under an FCIC Program
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SECTION I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report addresses crop insurance coverage for losses of specialty food crops resulting from 

food safety and contamination issues (food safety issues). The Contractor prepared the report 

under Order Number: D14PD01117 issued on behalf of the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). The report is responsive to legislative 

language in 7 U.S.C. 1522 (c) (22). The Contract defines a food safety and contamination issue 

as an “issue when a specialty crop food has been contaminated or tainted making it unfit for 

consumption which results in a recall and causes an inability of producers to market their 

specialty crop from the field and the specialty crop is lost in the field due to physical 

deterioration by natural causes.”

There were four objectives stated in the Statement of Work (SOW). Each is listed separately 

followed by a summary of findings.

a) To “determine if providing food safety and contamination coverage would benefit 

agricultural producers of specialty crops.”

Sufficient information to quantify the direct and indirect costs of historical recall events, 

especially for a “specialty crop lost in the field due to physical deterioration by natural causes,”

could not be developed. Hence, the monetary amount of potential benefit to agricultural 

producers of specialty crops could not be quantified. Direct costs are those incurred by a 

producer whose product has been recalled. Indirect costs are those incurred by producers who 

are unable to sell product, or who must sell at a substantially reduced price.

In general, while the incidence of specific recalls can be obtained from reliable sources, the 

amount of any costs of those recalls is not included in the announcements. Neither direct nor 

indirect costs are documented in recall announcements. Further queries with agencies tied to 

administration of these recalls did not result in receipt of usable information. 

In spite of efforts to encourage participation, input from stakeholders was limited. While several 

stakeholders indicated producers are very interested in recall insurance coverage, the Contractor 

received no direct verification of that from a producer. One stakeholder with legal training 

indicated that producer interest was higher for recall liability insurance (i.e., responsibility for 

damages incurred by other parties) than for recall crop (yield or revenue) insurance. Such 

coverage is outside the scope of this study and appears to exceed the requirements of the 

coverage described in 7 U.S.C. 1522 (c) (22).

The financial consequences of a recall can be devastating for persons who are affected directly or 

indirectly. The worst outcomes have included bankruptcy for both classes of affected individual. 

Theoretically, there are benefits to be derived from an insurance product that alleviates those 

consequences. It is not clear that a sufficient number of producers will purchase a stand-alone 

product for the additional coverage for what appears to be an infrequent event.
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b) To “help specialty crop producers and Congress understand how these risks are 

already being, or could be addressed by the crop insurance system.”

The extent to which these risks are being addressed by the crop insurance system is limited. 

Most crop insurance policies contain specific limitations that bar payment of indemnities for 

failure to harvest a marketable crop, i.e., a crop that is not damaged by an insurable cause. Many 

policies, especially those that cover fresh market or processing specialty crops, extend this 

prohibition by specifically excluding quarantine (a condition conceptually similar to a recall) as 

an insurable cause of loss. The Contractor notes that a quarantine endorsement to the Crop 

Provisions for two crops is available in certain counties in California for payment of additional 

premium. This endorsement supersedes the restriction on paying indemnities for a crop lost in 

the field during a quarantine. As discussed below, the applicability of this model to recalls is a 

matter of legal review and interpretation.

c) To “find and evaluate any existing policies or plans of insurance on specialty crops that 

provide coverage for food safety concerns (i.e. government, retail, or national consumer 

group announcements of health advisory, product removal, or product recall related to 

a contamination concern) to help make this determination.”

The Contractor was able to identify the quarantine endorsement reinsured by FCIC as an existing 

policy or plan of insurance that provides coverage for food safety concerns. As discussed in d) 

below, its applicability is a legal question. Many crop insurance policies, most of which do not 

cover specialty crops, do include quality provisions that reduce the production to count in the 

event mycotoxins or other substances injurious to human health are present. The Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) and USDA announce the existence of a recall action that falls within the 

purview of the respective Agency; however, the recall action itself must be initiated by a 

producer, a handler, a retailer, or similar entity that handles the commodity.

There appears to be no system in place to compensate producers for a “specialty crop ... lost in 

field due to physical deterioration by natural causes” that results from a recall of the production 

of another producer or that results from contamination introduced in the marketing chain.

Information on contracts at the first point of sale is sparse. Contracts for purchase are considered 

proprietary, and the terms of the contracts for each producer were described as “unique.” One

producer indicated the purchaser placed all the risk (including both in field and post-harvest risks 

prior to delivery) for deterioration by natural causes resulting from events such as recall and 

quarantine on his operation without recourse or compensation. The Contractor found no 

evidence this situation is different for any other specialty crop. The Contractor found no 

evidence that the contractual language is standardized or that buyers are willing to assume the 

financial burden for a recalled commodity for which ownership has yet been transferred to the 

buyer. Producers who are not directly affected perhaps could pursue tort actions in civil courts 

as an alternative; such actions typically are expensive and lengthy.
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d) To “determine what practical challenges are present that need to be overcome in order 

to create actuarially sound products related to these food safety risks.”

An actuarially sound product requires sufficient evidence to provide a reliable estimate of the 

appropriate rate and an absence of adverse selection. Sufficient evidence typically is datadriven, i.e., there exists either a sufficient history that enables direct estimation of the frequency 

and the severity of loss or that enables approximation of an appropriate probability distribution. 

In the absence of sufficient data, non-quantitative techniques must be employed.

The Contractor found that the historical frequency of food safety and contamination recall events 

can be established; however, this experience may present challenges for developing a reliable 

quantitative estimate of the frequency of future events that result in a loss in the field due to 

physical deterioration by natural causes. The Contractor found only anecdotal reports on the 

impact of recalls on crop yields or on the ability of individual producers to harvest and market a 

crop or upon the price received. However, historic recalls of unprocessed or minimally 

processed produce (dried fruits, fruits, nuts, and vegetables) and the good documentation of the 

entity recalling the produce could be used during a development effort to direct research into the 

severity of losses. With extraordinary effort, likely including survey instruments, it should be 

possible to determine the extent of the financial damage to producers for each of the historic 

recall events. Consequently, while such research would be costly, it does not represent a 

completely insurmountable barrier to development of a crop insurance product for food safety 

and recall issues. However, it should be noted, collection of data to determine the extent of the 

financial damage to producers for each of the historic recall events is a project that would likely 

take many years before enough data were collected to provide a traditional quantitative actuarial 

basis to determine rates. This is the most significant practical challenge, aside from legal 

considerations, that must be overcome.

An alternative to quantitative assessments of rate requirements is use of judgment to determine 

appropriate premium rates. A disciplined approach for applying judgment is the Delphi method, 

a method that has been used for a variety of situations when the issue or problem is too complex 

to be modeled. A multi-round (at least two rounds; the number depends on the rapidity at which 

estimates made by the panel of experts converge) series of estimates is made, with the results of 

each round being shared with the experts that constitute the panel to provide the input for next 

round of estimates. The resulting rates could then be updated experientially over the course of 

program experience. Hence, if these methods can be considered acceptable, inability to develop 

reliable statistical estimates is not an insurmountable problem for rating.

As noted previously, a pilot quarantine endorsement is reinsured by the FCIC. It is offered as a 

pilot program, a classification that offers more flexibility than a codified crop insurance program. 

Although conceptually similar, there are significant differences between a quarantine and a 

recall. A quarantine is imposed by a public authority in accordance with legally constituted 

parameters, sometimes to protect agricultural resources such as fruit-bearing trees from 

designated pests and sometimes to protect a growing crop from damage. A recall is initiated by a 

private entity, not a public entity (although they are often monitored by public entities), for a 

variety of reasons that are not codified. Determining whether the quarantine model can be 
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extended beyond its present limits is a question that must be answered by the Office of General 

Counsel.

The Contractor did identify six categories of potential impediments to the implementation of 

Specialty Crop Food Safety and Contamination Issues Insurance. These include legislative, 

policy language, procedural, actuarial, and logistic impediments, as well as impediments 

resulting from lack of currently available FCIC crop-specific coverage. While none of these 

impediments introduces a completely insurmountable barrier to the offer of insurance for food 

safety issues, many require a substantial change from the paradigm upon which the current FCIC 

insurance offers are based.

The final practical challenge is to overcome the inertia among producers regarding purchase of a 

product that covers an event that occurs with a very low frequency. The lack of producer 

participation in the listening sessions may be indicative of a low level of current interest in the 

subject. The low level of acceptance of the quarantine endorsement may be another indicator of 

limited producer interest in purchased risk management for infrequent events. Perhaps the 

current national Flood program offers a useful analogous experience. The rates tend to be very 

low and participation, except where mandated by law, appears to be highly influenced by the 

proximity (both temporally and spatially) of a flood event for which indemnities were paid. If 

insurance coverage for specialty crops lost in the field due to physical deterioration by natural 

causes as a result of a recall is deemed to be an important public policy goal, it may prove 

necessary to make it a standard feature of policy coverage and charge an additional load on the 

premium rate (much the same as prevented planting coverage).
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SECTION II. INTRODUCTION

The Statement of Work (SOW) for Contract Number GS10F0155P, Order Number 

D14PD01117, identifies the objectives of the work as to

a) “determine if providing food safety and contamination coverage would benefit 

agricultural producers of specialty crops.

b) To help specialty crop producers and Congress understand how these risks 

are already being, or could be addressed by the crop insurance system.

c) To find and evaluate any existing policies or plans of insurance on specialty 

crops that provide coverage for food safety concerns (i.e. government, retail, 

or national consumer group announcements of health advisory, product 

removal, or product recall related to a contamination concern) to help make 

this determination.

d) To determine what practical challenges are present that need to be overcome 

in order to create actuarially sound products related to these food safety 

risks.”

1

This document is the final study required by that SOW.

The report addresses questions regarding the offer of crop insurance for specialty crops covering 

losses resulting directly or indirectly from food safety issues. The Contractor prepared the report 

under a contract issued on behalf of RMA by the Department of the Interior, Acquisition 

Services Directorate. The Contractor delivered the report to RMA in the Agency’s role as the 

administrator of FCIC programs. 

The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 & Federal Crop Insurance Act [7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.,

as amended by Public Law 113–792] provided for the study that is documented in this report. 

The legislative mandate for the study in Public Law 113–79 states:

“STUDY OF FOOD SAFETY INSURANCE.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The [Federal Crop Insurance] Corporation shall offer to 

enter into a contract with 1 [one] or more qualified entities to conduct a 

study to determine whether offering policies that provide coverage for 

specialty crops from food safety and contamination issues would benefit 

agricultural producers.

(B) SUBJECT.—The study described in subparagraph (A) shall evaluate 

policies and plans of insurance coverage that provide protection for 

production or revenue impacted by food safety concerns including, at a 

minimum, government, retail, or national consumer group 

announcements of a health advisory, removal, or recall related to a 

contamination concern.”

 

1

 USDA, RMA, 2014, SOW, Contract Number: GS10F0155P, page 21 of 26.

2

Public Law 113–79 enacted February 7, 2014, has the official short title “‘Agricultural Act of 2014’’ but is also commonly 

known as the 2014 Farm Bill.
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Specialty Crops

The report focuses on specialty crops as defined in the solicitation and the contract. These 

documents both draw attention to the legal definition of specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables, 

tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”3 A 

comprehensive description and definition of specialty crops can be found on the website of the 

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

4

 The full USDA Definition of Specialty Crops and a list 

of specialty crops as compiled to date is incorporated into the report as Appendix A.

Food

The contract is silent concerning the definitions of food and of specialty crop food. The term 

“food” is generally used to categorize any substance consumed by a human to obtain nutrition. 

“Specialty crop food” will be defined for this study as a fruit, vegetable, tree nut, or dried fruit or 

a substance derived therefrom consumed by humans as a source of nutrition. The significance of 

the nutrition is not an issue as long as the specialty crop food provides some nutritional value to 

the consumer. Thousands of species of specialty crops are insurable under the FCIC Nursery 

Crop Provisions (08-073 (Rev. 10-06)) but are not insurable if they are to be used for food rather 

than as plants made available for sale.

5

This report will not ignore immature plants used as a 

food, but will instead consider them among the crops currently insured or uninsured under FCIC 

plans of insurance.

In conducting the study, the Contractor distinguished between three categories of specialty crop 

foods:

 Unprocessed specialty crop foods;

 Minimally processed specialty crop foods; and

 Substantially processed specialty crop foods.

These distinctions become important in considering the impediments to insuring losses to 

producers from “government, retail, or national consumer group announcements of a health 

advisory, removal, or recall related to a contamination concern.” Generally the harvest processes 

for specialty crops, which establish the end of the insurance period for most crops and the 

amount of crop harvested or harvestable, require the crop to be unprocessed. However, the new 

FCIC Whole Farm Revenue Protection Pilot Policy (15-0076 WFRP- Pilot) provisions allow 

insured liability to include the expected value of “market readiness operations.”6 Therefore, 

these provisions allow a specialty crop food to be minimally processed. Generally, value added 

to a crop after its removal from the field or the environment in which it is grown is not insurable 

under any FCIC crop or policy provisions. Any effect of a recall of a substantially processed 

specialty crop food on the market and/or price of crops “in the field” will be indirect, which is to 

say the crop in the field will not itself be the recalled or contaminated food. Differences between 

direct and indirect food safety issues are discussed later in this report.

 

3

Solicitation, page 43; Contract, page 21.

4 USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2014, USDA Definition of Specialty Crops, 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5082113, accessed November, 2014.

5

See the Nursery Crop Provision 8. Insurable Crop and Plants.

6 Market readiness operations – The on-farm activities that are the minimum required to remove the commodity from the field 

and make the commodity market ready, such as washing, packing etc.
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Food Safety and Contamination Issues

The Contract defines “food safety and contamination issue” as follows: 

An issue when a specialty crop food has been contaminated or tainted making it 

unfit for consumption which results in a recall and causes an inability of 

producers to market their specialty crop from the field and the specialty crop is 

lost in field due to physical deterioration by natural causes.7

The Contractor considered two alternatives regarding contamination in the analysis of “coverage 

that provides protection for production or revenue impacted by food safety concerns.” The first 

is when the insured’s production is contaminated and the second is when the insured’s 

production is not contaminated but a specialty crop food made from the crop (but not from the 

insured’s production) has been recalled. When the insured’s production is not contaminated, the 

Contractor’s analysis considered three situations related to the timing of harvest as defined in the 

crop provisions. The first is when the production can be timely sold, but is sold at a reduced 

price. The second is when the production cannot be timely sold and the quality is reduced by the 

delay in the sale. The last is when the production cannot be timely sold and the production is lost 

because of the delay.

The processing of the specialty crop food, the contamination, and the disruption to sales of the 

harvested crop combine to create numerous alternate food safety and contamination scenarios. 

Other scenarios can be imagined. For example, an insured may experience losses when a crop 

other than the species insured has been recalled. However, these other scenarios generally 

involve such indirect effects of specialty food safety issues on an insured’s revenue that it is not 

possible to imagine an insurance construct that would tie appropriately the ostensible cause of 

the revenue loss to the loss itself. The more indirect the effects, the more insurmountable are the 

barriers that arise to the insurance of losses from those effects. Consequently, the analysis in the 

report will focus on the scenarios involving contamination of the insured species, although not 

necessarily of the insured’s production.

The remainder of this report is presented in six sections. In order, these include sections 

addressing:

 Existing coverage offered for specialty crops under FCIC policies;

 Specialty crops not insured under crop-specific FCIC policies;

 Stakeholder input regarding food safety and recall insurance;

 Available quantitative data regarding recalls;

 Impediments to implementation of specialty crop food recall insurance; and

 A summary of the study findings.

The contract does not require development of insurance for food safety issues. Considering the 

impediments to development of specialty crop food recall insurance, such development efforts 

are far beyond the scope of the contract. However, the Contractor provides an overview of

actions required to overcome the identified impediments to implementation in Attachment I.

 

7 The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 & Federal Crop Insurance Act [7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. as amended through Public 

Law 113–79, enacted February 7, 2014] (22)(B).
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II.A. Agricultural Risk

Generally, sources of risk in agriculture include production, price (market), financial, 

institutional, and human (personal) risk. Production and price risks are the risks heretofore 

covered under FCIC plans of insurance.

Production Risk

Insurable crop production risks include adverse weather, disease and insect damage if control 

mechanisms either are not available or fail, earthquake, wildfire, volcano, and failure of 

irrigation supply if caused by any of the above named causes of loss. These are, in fact, 

precisely the natural risks that affect production of the insured crop. Risks resulting from human 

actions (e.g., fires caused by human activities, pollution, agricultural chemical spills, etc.) are not 

insurable perils under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act).

Production risk can be systemic or idiosyncratic. Systemic risks, such as wide temperature 

excursions, affect all operations in a region. Weather-related production risk in production 

agriculture is caused by events such as high and low temperatures, excess precipitation, lack of 

precipitation, and wind either singly or in combination. Weather affects the production of a 

relatively large number of individual producers every year.

Crop diseases are caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and viruses that result in 

chronic disease losses and catastrophic diseases. Chronic diseases slowly erode production and 

consequently affect profits. Catastrophic losses can lead to the ruin of entire industry sectors. 

Decreased resistance to disease may result from physical stress characterizing high density 

mono-culture. Consequently, good management practices are essential to limiting disease in 

agricultural crops, and producers typically use appropriate practices to manage these risks.

Other elements of production risk are idiosyncratic, affecting individual growers. Examples of 

idiosyncratic production risk include an isolated disease outbreak, localized predation, or a winddriven drying of a crop at a particular production location. Contamination of specialty food crop 

production in the field is generally idiosyncratic.

Price Risk

While the contracted study addresses losses of production “in [the] field due to physical 

deterioration by natural causes,” many losses due to recall result from price drops as demand for 

a crop decreases and/or collapse of markets as consumers shun the recalled specialty crop food. 

Consequently, agricultural producers face price risks as the prices of most crops are subject to

farm-gate market forces.

The Contractor notes there are limited published farm-gate specialty food crop price series data

established by consistent methods. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) publishes 

farm-gate prices for a number of fruits and vegetables.8 NASS publishes average prices for 

 

8 USDA, ERS, 2014, Price Spreads from Farm to Consumer, http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/price-spreads-from-farm-toconsumer.aspx#25657, accessed November, 2014, lists price series for apples, broccoli, grapefruits, grapes, lemons, lettuce 

(iceberg), oranges, peaches, pears, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes (field-grown). USDA, ERS, 2014, Yearbook Tables, 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/vegetables-and-pulses-data/yearbook-tables.aspx, accessed November, 2014, lists 

annual prices for almonds, apples, apricots, asparagus, avocadoes, bananas, blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, 
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selected states for principal fresh market vegetables in its Vegetable Annual Summary; for 

noncitrus fruits and nuts in the Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts Annual Summary; and for citrus fruits 

in the Citrus Fruit Annual Summary. RMA uses these values and other data to establish annual 

price elections for the crop-specific insurance products.

Production costs are an alternative measure of the economic damage suffered by producers when 

a recall affects marketability of a product or its price. However, there are no independent third 

party sources of costs of production for individual producers. Even average costs of production 

are difficult to obtain for specialty crops. RMA funded an attempt to develop an individuallybased cost of production program for a major crop, but abandoned the effort in 2003.9

 RMA 

published the results of this effort to allow interested parties to build on what had been 

developed. This has not happened.

Inputs for production agriculture, including fertilizers, fuel, and chemicals (e.g., pesticides), are 

costly. Substantial increases in input costs may significantly affect the producer’s margins and 

thus the producer’s net revenues. To date, input price risks have not been insured under 

insurance programs, except to the extent they were an element of the Adjusted Gross Revenue 

(AGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue – Lite (AGR-Lite) calculations or were the specific inputs 

defined for Livestock Gross Margin. The new WFRP plan offers more protection for revenue 

than that offered under AGR and AGR-Lite.

 

boysenberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, dry onions, figs, grapes, grapefruit, 

guavas, hazelnuts, iceberg lettuce, kiwifruit, lemons, macadamia nuts, nectarines, olives, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, 

pecans, pineapples, pistachio nuts, plums, prunes, potatoes, red raspberries, snap beans, strawberries, sweet corn, sweet 

potatoes, tomatoes, and walnuts.

9 Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, October 9, 2003.
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SECTION III. EXISTING COVERAGE

USDA recognizes more than 310 named specialty crops.10 The SOW specifically requires the 

Contractor to “find and evaluate any existing policies or plans of insurance on specialty crops 

that provide coverage for food safety concerns...”11 In this evaluation, the Contractor considers

only those specialty crops produced for food. Yet even after these non-food crops are excluded, 

more than 200 specialty food crops remain on the AMS specialty crop list.

Of the specialty crops grown for food in the United States, 75 currently have crop-specific,

multi-peril crop insurance coverage offered by the FCIC.

12

 In 2013, these 75 crops accounted 

for just under $11 billion in crop insurance liability,13 about 8 percent of the total FCIC crop 

insurance liability for that year. According to the USDA ERS, “the U.S. fruit and tree nuts 

industry (excluding melons) generates...around $18 billion in farm cash receipts annually.”14 

Additionally, the U.S. vegetable and pulse sector generates, on average, $17.4 billion in farm 

cash receipts annually.15 Consequently, approximately half the value of U.S. specialty food 

crops is insured under FCIC crop-specific, multi-peril insurance. 

The crop insurance covering the 75 specialty crops includes Actual Production History (APH) –

53 crops; Actual Revenue History (ARH) – 4 crops; Dollar Amount of Insurance (DOL) – 15 

crops; Pecan Revenue (PRV) – 1 crop; and Revenue Protection (RP), Revenue Protection with 

Harvest Price Exclusion (RPHPE), and Yield Protection (YP) – 2 crops. Additionally, until Crop 

Year 2014, many specialty crops were provided coverage under the AGR and AGR-Lite 

programs. These plans of insurance were discontinued for the 2015 Crop Year when Whole 

Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) was implemented.

Crop-specific FCIC insurance programs have the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic 

Provisions as the base from which coverage and parameters for risk management are derived. 

Each individual crop provisions supplements or refines the provisions found in the Basic 

Provisions. A key section of the Basic Provisions addresses the causes of loss not covered by 

crop insurance. For food safety, one key component is specifically addressed in Section 12 of 

the Basic Provisions as follows:

“Causes of Loss.

Insurance is provided only to protect against unavoidable, naturally 

occurring events. A list of the covered naturally occurring events is contained 

in the applicable Crop Provisions. All other causes of loss, including but not 

limited to the following, are NOT covered:

 

10 The Contractor has included a copy of the list of specialty crops published by USDA on the Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS) website in Appendix A.

11 Solicitation, Statement of Work Section 2.2, page 21 of 26.

12 The Contractor notes that the AMS sometimes uses generic categorizations of crop (e.g., citrus) in their specialty crop list, 

while FCIC may insure the specialty food crops based on more precise agronomic categorizations (addressing Florida, Texas, 

and Arizona-California citrus separately and within each geographic region addressing different types (e.g., oranges, 

grapefruits, lemons and limes) separately). 

13 USDA, RMA, 2014, RMA Summary of Business, accessed November 2014.

14 USDA, ERS, 2013, Fruit and Tree Nuts, http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/fruit-tree-nuts.aspx, accessed November 2014.

15 USDA, ERS, 2013, Vegetables & Pulses, http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/vegetables-pulses.aspx, accessed November 

2014.
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11

(a) Any act by any person that affects the yield, quality or price of the 

insured crop (e.g., chemical drift, fire, terrorism, etc.);”

For food safety issues, a producer who chooses to delay harvest until any adverse effects of a 

recall have been alleviated would find that the damage incurred as a result of this delay is not 

covered. Delay is an “act... that affects the yield, quality or price of the insured crop.”16 

Thirteen of the 75 crop-specific crop provisions contain specific statements that identify failure 

to harvest in a timely manner as an non-insured cause of loss. Furthermore, most of the crop 

provisions also contain a version of a general marketing exclusion statement associated with the 

inability to market the crop:

“In addition to the causes of loss excluded in section 12 (Causes of Loss) of the 

Basic Provisions, we will not insure against damage or loss of production due to 

the inability to market the (covered crop) for any reason other than actual 

physical damage to the (covered crop) from an insurable cause specified in this 

section. For example, we will not pay you an indemnity if you are unable to 

market due to quarantine, boycott, or refusal of any person to accept production.”

While this statement does not specifically identify recalls as a reason the producer may 

experience an inability to market their product – yet recalls appear to be in the same category of 

obstacle to marketing as quarantine, boycott, and refusal to accept production – recalls are also a 

man-made obstruction to the marketing of the crop. This restriction applies whether the recall 

action is traceable to the individual insured’s production or whether the producer is impacted by 

the actions of someone else.

The contract for this study requires attention to losses of production “in [the] field due to 

physical deterioration by natural causes.” A third of the specialty crop provisions contain 

language which allow the producer to claim losses specifically associated with the harvested 

crop not meeting specifically defined quality standards. There may be an opportunity to include 

language under existing plans of insurance to adjust production to count for quality losses 

associated with market restrictions caused by a food safety recall that directly or indirectly 

affects the particular person who is insured. The primary obstacles that limit inclusion of quality 

provisions in many crop policies are the lack of third-party standards of quality and an 

independent inspection system for a commodity.

The list of covered causes of loss is relatively similar across the specific crop provisions which 

contain such a list:

“Causes of Loss 

(a) In accordance with the provisions of section 12 of the Basic Provisions, 

insurance is provided only against the following causes of loss that occur 

during the insurance period: 

(1) Adverse weather conditions; 

(2) Fire; 

(3) Wildlife; 

(4) Insects or plant disease, but not damage due to insufficient or 

improper application of control measures; 

 

16 Section 12 of the Basic Provisions (11-BR).
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12

(5) Earthquake; 

(6) Volcanic eruption; or 

(7) Failure of the irrigation water supply, if caused by a cause of loss 

specified in sections 10(a)(1) through (6) that occurs during the 

insurance period.”

Damage from wildlife is a generally covered loss under all FCIC plans. Consequently, the need 

to reduce yield because of abandonment of crops due to wildlife contamination should result in a 

covered loss for the insured whose crop was actually contaminated by wildlife. However, on 

farms not experiencing contamination but affected by a wildlife-contamination-based recall, the 

proximal cause of the loss is the recall (a man-made event), while the cause of the recall was the 

contamination, and the cause of the contamination was the wildlife. The disconnect between the 

natural event (wildlife contamination) and the proximal cause of the loss (the recall) creates a 

circumstance where claims for damages are logically rejected. Furthermore, much 

contamination of specialty crop foods cannot be traced to wildlife (see the discussion on 

Impediments to Implementation). Consequently, the coverage for food safety issues currently 

offered under the FCIC plans is extremely limited.

The following discussion focuses on the coverage available to specialty crops under the plans of 

insurance previously identified. Each discussion conveys key aspects of the coverage currently 

offered and whether that coverage provides relief from the risks associated with food safety 

issues.

Actual Production History

Actual Production History (APH) policies insure producers against yield losses due to natural 

causes such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease.17 Combined, 

the 2013 specialty crop liability associated with the APH plan was just over $8 billion. Currently 

the APH plan does not provide recall-specific coverage. If a specialty crop insurance policy 

contains quality adjustment provisions or language providing an option to claim losses associated 

with failure to meet quality standards, the plan could provide some level of relief from the 

financial losses associated with a recall. This would only be true in those instances where the 

policy does not specifically state that the failure to harvest or market in a timely manner is an 

excluded cause of loss. APH-based insurance policy language could be modified to provide 

coverage once statutory language and other impediments to coverage are addressed.

Some APH-based crop provisions (generally not specialty crops) specifically allow quality 

adjustment of a crop whenever “Substances or conditions are present, including mycotoxins, that 

are identified by the Food and Drug Administration or other public health organizations of the 

United States as being injurious to human or animal health.”

18

 Such substances typically are 

discovered only after the crop is harvested and therefore would not result in a loss in the field

due to physical deterioration by natural causes. Such quality adjustment affects only the 

production determined to have been contaminated; the production of other producers is not 

 

17 USDA, RMA, 2014, Policies, http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/ accessed November 2014

18 e.g., USDA, RMA, 2010, Small Grains Crop Provisions (11-0011), page 8 of 9, http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/2011/11-

0011.pdf, accessed February 2015.
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13

affected. Hence, in the present form, these provisions do not meet the standard established by 

the legislation. Extending these provisions to other crops requires only the addition of the terms 

to the crop provisions. Specialty crops insured under the APH plan are listed in Table 1. 

Extending the provisions to production that is affected only indirectly requires a change in the 

crop insurance paradigm.

Table 1. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: APH Plan

Almonds Onions

Apples Oranges, Navel

Apricots (Fresh) Oranges, Valencia

Apricots (Processing) Papaya

Avocados Peaches

Banana Peaches (Cling Processing)

Beans (Dry) Peaches (Freestone Fresh)

Beans (Fresh Market) Peaches (Freestone Processing)

Beans (Processing) Pears

Blueberries Peas (Dry)

Cabbage Peas (Green)

Citrus (TX) - All Other Grapefruit Pistachios

Citrus (TX) - Early & Midseason Oranges Plums

Citrus (TX) - Late Oranges Potato

Citrus (TX) - Ruby Red Grapefruit Prunes

Coffee Pumpkins

Cranberries Sweet Corn (Processing)

Figs Sweet Oranges

Grapefruit Sweet Potatoes

Grapes Table Grapes

Lemons Tangelos, Minneola/Honeybell

Macadamia Nuts Tangelos, Orlando

Mandarins Tangerines

Mint Tomatoes (Fresh Market)

Mustard Tomatoes (Processing)

Nectarines (Fresh) Walnuts

Olives

Source: The Contractor’s Underwriting Department after FCIC Policies.

Actual Revenue History

The Actual Revenue History (ARH) “pilot program protects growers against losses from low 

yields, low prices, low quality, or any combination of these events.”

19

 Combined, the 2013 

specialty crop liability associated with the ARH plan was nearly $450 million. There are four 

crops which have ARH coverage available: sweet cherries, tart cherries, navel oranges, and 

strawberries (Table 2). The term “recall” is not used in the ARH Crop Provisions as an insurable 

or excluded cause of loss. Nonetheless, the ARH Crop Provisions do provide for coverage for a 

cause of loss described as “an inadequate market price”

20 which may provide an opportunity for 

producers to receive some compensation for losses associated with a lower market price resulting 

from a product recall. Yet it is important to note that “inadequate market price” as used in the 

ARH provisions refers to circumstances when the average price received by all producers is less 

 

19 Ibid

20 USDA, RMA, 2014, Actual Revenue History Sweet Cherry Pilot Crop Provisions, http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/2014/14-

0057sweet.pdf, accessed November 2014
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14

than the average valuation of the commodity as included in the actual revenue history, not a 

specific price for a specific producer. Thus the ARH provisions could provide indemnities for 

general market collapse but would not provide relief whenever the production of a few producers 

is affected by a recall that does not directly affect their production. ARH-based insurance policy 

language could be modified to provide coverage once statutory language and other impediments 

to coverage are addressed.

Table 2. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: ARH Plan

Cherries, Sweet

Cherries, Tart

Navel Oranges

Strawberries

Source: The Contractor’s Underwriting 

Department after FCIC Policies.

Dollar Plan

“Dollar Plan policies provide protection against declining value due to damage that causes a 

yield shortfall. The amount of insurance is based on the cost of growing a crop in a specific area. 

A loss occurs when the annual crop value is less than the amount of insurance. (See table 3 for 

15 such crops)”

21

 Combined, the 2013 specialty crop liability associated with the Dollar Plan 

was just over $2.85 billion. Currently the Dollar Plan does not provide recall-specific coverage. 

If a specialty crop insurance policy contains a quality adjustment endorsement or language 

providing an option to claim losses associated with missing quality standards, the plan could 

provide some level of relief from the financial losses associated with a recall. This would only 

be true in those instances where the policy does not specifically state that the failure to harvest in 

a timely manner is an excluded cause of loss. Dollar Plan insurance policy language could be 

modified to provide coverage once statutory language and other impediments to coverage are 

addressed. It should be noted that language contained in the Nursery Crop Provisions under the 

Dollar Plan may provide a precedent for addressing losses associated with the inability to market

a crop. The following statement comes from the Nursery Crop Provisions:

“10. Causes of Loss.

(b) Insurance is also provided against the following if due to a cause of loss 

specified in section 10(a) that occurs within the insurance period:

(1) A loss in plant values because of an inability to market such plants, 

provided such plants would have been marketed during the crop year 

(e.g. poinsettias that are not marketable during their usual and 

recognized marketing period of November 1st through December 

25th);.”22

The cited language affects only those plants that have been damaged to the extent that they 

cannot be marketed during the normal season. Recall insurance as envisioned by the legislation 

would require extension of such coverage to producers who are indirectly affected by the recall 

notice (i.e., their production is not specifically subject to the recall but there is no market for it). 

The exclusion of man-made causes of loss also would need to be modified to provide coverage 

for food safety issues.

 

21 USDA, RMA, 2014, Policies, http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/ accessed November 2014

22 USDA, RMA, 2015, Nursery Crop Provisions
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Table 3. Specialty Food Crops with Insurance Coverage: Dollar Plan

Chile Peppers Citrus VIII - Navel Oranges

Citrus (FL) - Early & Midseason Oranges Macadamia Trees

Citrus (FL) - Grapefruit & Late Oranges (Fresh) Nursery - Field Grown & Container

Citrus (FL) - Grapefruit (Juice) Peppers

Citrus (FL) - Late Oranges (Juice) Raisins

Citrus (FL) - Lemons, Limes Sweet Corn (Fresh Market)

Citrus (FL) - Murcotts, Temples Tomatoes (Fresh Market)

Citrus (FL) - Navel Oranges, Tangelos, Tangerines

Source: The Contractor’s Underwriting Department after FCIC Policies.

Pecan Revenue

The Pecan Revenue plan (PRV) is a revenue plan of insurance that “provides protection against 

unavoidable loss of pecan revenue due to standard causes of loss of yield as well as decline in 

market price.”

23 The 2013 liability associated with PRV was nearly $190 million. Currently 

PRV does not provide recall-specific coverage and there is no quality adjustment language in the 

provisions, however, the coverage for decline in market price may provide some relief should the 

market price fall as a result of a recall action. However, the decline in market price must be 

broad-based and affect a majority of the production if the producer is to benefit since the pecans 

are valued at not less than 95 percent of the market price on the day pecans are sold. 

Furthermore, unless the demand for pecans dropped significantly as a result of a recall, a recall 

that affects a sufficient quantity of pecans to affect the price would likely result in an increase in 

the market price since AMS records only sales when determining the market price. Scarcer 

supply usually results in a higher price. Consequently, in the event of a recall conflicting 

economic forces may be acting on the price realized by the producer. Nonetheless, the PRV 

policy language could be modified to provide coverage once statutory language and other 

impediments to coverage are addressed. Pecans are the only crop covered by PRV.

Revenue Protection

The Revenue Protection (RP) plan insures “producers against yield losses due to natural causes 

such as drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind, frost, insects, and disease, and revenue losses 

caused by a change in the harvest price from the projected price.”

24 The 2013 specialty crop 

liability associated with RP was nearly $263 million. Currently the RP program does not provide 

recall-specific coverage and there is no quality adjustment language in the provisions. However, 

the protection afforded against movement in the market price may provide some relief should the 

market price fall as a result of a recall action. As in the case of the Pecan Revenue policy, such 

market price decline must be broadly based. The RP-based insurance policy language could be 

modified to provide coverage once statutory language and other impediments to coverage are 

addressed. RP provides insurance for the specialty crops dry beans and dry peas in select states 

and counties.

 

23 Teegerstrom, T., R.Tronstad and S.T. Nakamoto, 2012, An Overview of Risk Management Agency Insurance Products and 

Farm Service Agency Programs Available for Arizona Agricultural Producers as of December 2012; 

http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1587.pdf, accessed November 2014

24 USDA, RMA, 2014, Policies, http://www.rma.usda.gov/policies/ accessed November 2014
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Revenue Protection with Harvest Price Exclusion

The Revenue Protection with Harvest Price Exclusion (RPHPE) program provides insurance for

“producers in the same manner as Revenue Protection polices, except the amount of insurance 

protection is based on the projected price only (the amount of insurance protection is not 

increased if the harvest price is greater than the projected price).”

25 The 2013 specialty crop 

liability associated with RPHPE was just over $1 million. The RPHPE program otherwise is 

identical to the RP program.

Yield Protection

The Yield Protection (YP) program provides insurance for “producers in the same manner as 

APH polices, except a projected price is used to determine insurance coverage.”

26 The 2013 

specialty crop liability associated with YP was just over $247 million. The YP program 

otherwise is substantially identical to the RP program.

Whole Farm Revenue Protection

The Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) pilot insurance program protects growers against 

losses from low yields, low prices, low quality, or any combination of these events. As the 

program will first be offered for the 2015 crop year, there are no data on the liability covered by 

the plan. Insurance under the WFRP Pilot plan is available in Butte, Fresno, Kern, Mendocino, 

Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, Tulare, 

Ventura, Yuba, and Yolo counties in California; in all boroughs in Alaska except North Slope 

and Northwest Arctic, and in all other states in the United States except Arkansas, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. RMA expects to expand to other states and counties as data 

for the actuarial analysis become available and are processed.

Provision 9(a) of the WFRP policy indicates coverage is provided for “approved revenue” rather 

than for specific crops: “This policy insures the approved revenue that you expect to earn or will 

obtain from commodities that you produce or purchase for resale during the insurance year and 

in which you have an insurable interest.” There are limitations on the total insurable liability 

(currently the limit is set at $8.5 million under Provision 2(b)(1), and on certain crops including 

livestock (with a revenue limit of $1 million set under Provision 2(b)(2)) and nursery with a 

revenue limit of $1 million set under Provision 2(b)(3)). However, these limitations, with the 

exception of the total insured revenue limitation, do not affect insurance of specialty food crops.

The term “recall” does not appear in the WFRP Provisions as an insurable or excluded cause of 

loss. The WFRP Provisions contain the standard limitation that losses due to quarantine, 

boycott, or refusal of any person to accept production are not covered losses. However, the 

WFRP Provisions do provide for coverage for losses from a decline in local market price 

(section 21(a)(9)). The language of section 21(d) indicates: “Decline in local market price will 

be presumed to be from unavoidable natural causes unless the Company [i.e., an Approved 

Insurance Provider (AIP)] or FCIC is able to specifically identify a man-made cause that resulted 

in a measurable change in the price. In the case of such occurrence, the portion of the loss 

caused by the man-made event will not be covered.” While recalls are obviously “man-made,” 

 

25 Ibid.

26 Ibid.
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demonstrating the causal relationship of the recall for the price decline may be difficult. Since

the underlying presumption is that market price changes are from “unavoidable natural causes”

(section 21(d)), establishing the quantitative impact of a recall to establish “the portion of the 

loss caused by the man-made event” will be particularly burdensome. Consequently, the impact 

of the language from sections 21(a) and 21(d) is ambiguous. Furthermore, the complex 

relationship of supply and demand in the case of a recall makes it difficult to anticipate whether 

food safety issues will even result in local market price declines although individual producers 

may be impacted by a recall.

The Contractor also notes the existence of a quarantine endorsement available on a pilot basis for 

two crops in several counties of California. This endorsement provides exactly the type of 

coverage specified by the legislation that authorized this study. An indemnity is payable 

whenever a public authority imposes a quarantine on an agricultural commodity, and “does not 

permit the insured crop to be harvested, sold, transported, transferred, or otherwise restricts it 

from movement from the location where it was produced to the location of any buyer,” and 

“insured production within the quarantine zone sustains unavoidable physical deterioration 

during the quarantine such that, under the terms of the Crop Provisions for the eligible crop, it no 

longer is considered to be production to count or the quantity of such production is reduced,” or 

requires that the production be destroyed. The production insured under the relevant crop 

provisions need not be infected or otherwise harmed by the causal agent that resulted in the 

quarantine. It is sufficient that the production be located within the zone where the quarantine is 

imposed, and that the quarantine be of sufficient length that physical degradation of the 

production occurs (for reasons other than mandatory destruction).

There are substantive legal issues with applying this model to recalls that result in physical 

damage to production due to inability to market. The quarantine endorsement is a pilot, a term 

that allows experimental crop insurance coverages. As should be evident from the preceding 

paragraph, this coverage deviates from the crop insurance paradigm in that it allows indemnities 

for damage that occurs as a result of a man-made event. Further, it allows indemnities whenever 

a crop physically could have been harvested but was not due to the imposition of the quarantine.

An important distinction between quarantine and recall is the entity making the determination. 

Quarantines are imposed by public officials acting under the authority of codified regulations. 

Recalls are initiated by any person involved with handling the commodity who becomes aware 

of the issue. A public entity merely publishes the details of the recall. A recall can occur for a 

multitude of reasons, none of which are codified. Hence, the determination of whether the 

quarantine model can be applied to recalls without a change in statute is a question that must be 

referred to the Office of General Counsel.

There appears to be no system in place to compensate producers for a “specialty crop ... lost in 

field due to physical deterioration by natural causes” that results from a recall of the production 

of another producer or that results from contamination introduced in the marketing chain. Data 

on contracts at the first point of sale are sparse. No stakeholder provided a contract documenting 

the terms between a producer and a buyer. Integrators handling both specialty crop fruits and 

vegetables indicated their contracts for purchase are proprietary. Furthermore, the terms of the 

contracts for each producer were described as “unique.” Also, many specialty crop operations 
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18

are vertically integrated. In these integrated operations, the distribution of risks related to recall 

is subjective since ultimately all the risks within the integrated operation affect the bottom line of 

the entire operation. In a conversation with a producer of an annual fresh fruit, the producer 

indicated the purchaser placed all the risk for deterioration by natural causes resulting from 

events such as recall and quarantine on his operation, without recourse or compensation. The 

risks the producer’s operation bore included both in field and post-harvest risks prior to delivery. 

The producer indicated a perfectly good harvest was allowed to deteriorate in a truck and all the 

expenses, including the cleaning of the truck, were borne by his operation. The Contractor found 

no evidence this situation is different for any other specialty crop. Producers who are not 

directly affected perhaps could pursue tort actions in civil courts as an alternative; such actions 

typically are expensive and lengthy. The terms of the producer’s contract would limit the 

choices for recourse that are available.
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19

SECTION IV. “UNINSURED” CROPS

This section of the report addresses specialty food crops on the USDA AMS specialty crops list 

that do not have crop-specific multi-peril crop insurance coverage provided by the FCIC. The 

Contractor notes in most U.S. counties these crops will be insurable under the WFRP plan that is 

available for the 2015 crop year.

More than 150 named specialty crops grown for food in the United States do not have cropspecific multi-peril crop insurance coverage reinsured by the FCIC. The majority of these 

uninsured specialty crops fall into the Culinary Herbs and Spices (68) and Medicinal Herbs (39) 

categories specified by AMS. However, there are 20 named crops not insured by FCIC under 

crop-specific policies in the Fruits and Tree Nuts category and 35 in the Vegetables category.

The Contractor has cataloged the specialty food crops from the USDA AMS specialty crop list 

that are currently not insured under FCIC crop-specific policies by category of the crop in 

Appendix B, Exhibit 1. The Contractor notes the list includes some specialty crops involved 

relatively frequently in recall actions (e.g., melons (cantaloupe had 3 recalls and honeydew 1 

between 2012 and 2014) and Romaine lettuce (3 recalls between 2012 and 2014)). Producers of 

these frequently recalled crops likely experience revenue losses associated with recalls more 

often than producers of other specialty food crops.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported the value of production for 14 

of these specialty food crops not insured under crop-specific multi-peril crop insurance in the 

2008 Census of Agriculture (Census).27 These included 11 Vegetables and 3 Fruits and Tree 

Nuts from the AMS listing. The value of those 14 crops collectively in 2008 was just over $380

million (Appendix B, Exhibit 2). The Contractor found no documentation of the value of the 

remaining crops gathered by a consistent method.

 

27 The Contractor used the 2008 Census data because the 2012 Census did not document the value of these crops, only the area 

harvested for vegetable crops and the acreage bearing and non-bearing for fruit and nut tree crops. 
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20

SECTION V. STAKEHOLDER INPUT

The contract required one on-site listening session to gather stakeholder input concerning 

insurance addressing food safety issues. In addition to this on-site listening session, the 

Contractor conducted five teleconference listening sessions and invited telephone conversations, 

letters, and email input from any interested stakeholder. The Contractor anticipated the outreach 

effort would help determine whether specialty crop producers perceived a food safety recall 

insurance program as beneficial and to understand the level of interest producers of specialty 

food crops would have in such a program if it were offered.

In advertising the listening sessions, the Contractor contacted 32 grower associations in the 6 

states by telephone and/or email (Appendix C, Exhibit 1). The Contractor preferred telephone

for the purpose of this contact. However, grower organizations are increasingly limiting their 

distribution of telephone contact numbers and even of email addresses. Many now have contact 

pages on their websites that require initial contact to be made through a web interface rather than 

directly by email.

The Contractor asked each of the 32 grower groups to convey information about the listening 

session to its membership. The Contractor also placed advertisements in appropriate print and 

online forums for regional weekly agriculture papers and newsletters two weeks before the

listening sessions. These advertisements and announcements were each run for two weeks and 

contained a brief synopsis of the topic for the listening session as well as a link to a website the 

Contractor created which contained the phone numbers and access codes to all five 

teleconference sessions. Appendix C, Exhibit 2 contains a list of the periodicals within which 

listening session advertisements were purchased in an effort to encourage participation. 

Appendix C, Exhibit 3 contains a copy of the advertisement placed in the Capital Press for the 

Sacramento listening session. Furthermore for this on-site listening session, a press release 

approved by RMA (Appendix C, Exhibit 4) was provided to both the Capital Press and Farm 

Press. These two periodicals have wide readership in the agricultural community, especially in 

the western states. The Capital Press featured the press release on its Press Release webpage. 

The newspaper also highlighted the online version of the advertisement through a scrolling link 

on its home page. The scrolling link to the advertisement was active from October 24 through 

October 30, 2014. The Capital Press advertisement also appeared in the print version of the 

paper.

Finally, the Contractor contacted university extension specialists, particularly those with research 

interests in specialty food crops and/or food safety, in all six targeted states and requested both 

their presence in the listening sessions and that they convey information about the listening 

sessions to producers of specialty food crops and producers particularly interested in food safety.

As a result of these efforts, the Contractor gathered stakeholder input during discussions with 

producer association representatives, insurance industry representatives, processors, academics

and an agricultural lawyer. The Contractor conducted an on-site listening session in Sacramento, 

California on October 29, 2014. Producers in California grow more specialty crop species than 

producers in any other state. The California specialty crop production by value is also greater 

than that value for any other state. A copy of the agenda which guided the conversation during 

the California listening session is provided in Appendix C, Exhibit 5. The Contractor focused 
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21

the teleconference listening sessions on stakeholders in Florida (November 13, 2014), Michigan 

(November 13, 2014), New Jersey (November 14, 2014), New York (November 12, 2014), and

Wisconsin (November 12, 2014).

In spite of these efforts to encourage participation, input from stakeholders was limited. Two 

participants attended the California listening session, one from the RMA Davis Regional Office 

(RO) and one representing a grower’s association serving Arizona and California. The main 

concern expressed during this session was whether the insurance, if developed, would address a 

situation in which a shipment of produce was turned away at the point of sale due to a recall and 

then sold for a lower price because of a loss of quality while being stored.

There were a total of eight stakeholder participants who identified themselves in the telephone 

listening sessions. The participants included 2 extension agents, 2 grower association 

representatives, and 4 representatives of RMA ROs.

No follow-up communications from producers was received by telephone, email, or mail. The 

Contractor did have the opportunity in follow-up telephone conversations to talk with an 

insurance agent with numerous clients who grow melons, an agricultural attorney interested in 

recall, and staff at an association of grower association executives. All were encouraged to have 

producers contact the Contractor. These efforts did not result in any direct producer 

communication, although the Contractor was told repeatedly that recall is a rising concern among 

specialty crop food producers.

Comments provided by the interested parties are summarized in Appendix C, Exhibit 6.
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22

SECTION VI. SPECIALTY FOOD CROP RECALL DATA

The Contractor reviewed the data available documenting specialty food crop recalls. Recalls are 

actions taken by a company, manufacturer, processor, distributor or other production entity to 

remove a product from the market. It is important to note governments do not recall products 

(including foods). The persons or companies responsible for the production issue the recall. 

Federal and state government agencies then publish the recall notice. Most recalls are voluntary. 

Even when a government agency informs a producer some of its production is contaminated and 

requests a recall, the recall action is still voluntary. While the U.S. FDA can seek legal action 

involving seizure of production, injunctive actions, and court ordered recall under the Federal 

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) Act, such actions are extremely rare. The voluntary 

system works because producers have an economic incentive to remove unsafe production from 

the marketplace.

The FDA is responsible for the regulation and safety standards for approximately 80 percent of 

the food supply in the United States. The FDA’s authority covers both domestic and imported 

foods. The FDA is also responsible for overseeing the safety of pet foods. The remaining 20 

percent of the U.S. food supply, primarily meat, poultry and some egg products, is regulated by a 

branch of the USDA known as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).28 The FDA is 

given authority under 21 CFR Part 7 Subpart C – Recalls (Including Product Corrections) -

Guidelines on Policy, Procedures, and Industry Responsibilities to initiate, review, classify, 

publish, audit and terminate recall actions. Until the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act 

(FSMA), food recalls were voluntary actions initiated by food processors, distributors or 

manufacturers, or actions initiated following a request from FDA or FSIS. FSMA gave authority 

to FDA through the FD&C to take direct action against production facilities if FDA determined 

the production facility posed a significant threat to the public health. As part of its 

responsibilities, the FDA publicizes recalls and maintains a database of those recalls. The FSIS 

also maintains a database of the recalls for which they provide oversight.

Data Availability

The FDA and FSIS each maintain an archive of recall notices they have published. The recall 

archive for the FDA29 contains recall actions dating from 2004. The recall archive for the FSIS30

contains recall actions dating from 1994. Sample FDA recall announcements are provided in 

Appendix D, Exhibit 1. While many recall notices contain information about the quantity of the 

food recalled, that is not a required element of a recall notice.

Every state has an agency or agencies tasked with tracking and managing food safety issues and 

interacting with their FDA and/or FSIS counterparts (Appendix D, Exhibit 2). In some states 

both the state department of health and human services (or an agency with similar 

responsibilities) and the state department of agriculture are responsible for tracking and 

 

28 “Jessica White-Cason, 2013, Understanding Food Recalls: The Recall Process Explained, Food Safety News, 

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/08/understanding-food-recalls-the-recall-process-explained/#.VGplRvnF9Zg accessed 

November 2014.

29 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2014, Archive for Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts, 

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/default.htm, accessed November 2014.

30 USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2014, Recall Case Archive, 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive, accessed November 2014.
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23

addressing food safety issues within the state. In other states, only one of these entities is 

responsible for food safety issues, while the other entity directs inquiries to the responsible 

agency.

Nineteen states maintain recalls databases. State websites addressing food safety issues all had 

links to both the FoodSafety.gov website and the FDA and FSIS recall websites. Of the 19 states 

which maintain a separate, state-level recall database, the Ohio database is the most 

comprehensive and includes a search function allowing users to mine data on recalls. It appears 

the Ohio database is linked to both the FDA and the FSIS recall databases. The Ohio database 

website allows the user to query the recall database using multiple parameters. The user may 

query the database by date range, product type (fruit/vegetable/juices, fish/shellfish, meat, 

poultry, etc.), and reason for the recall (allergies or biological, chemical, or physical

contamination).31 Additionally, the Ohio site provides a hyperlink to a PDF document 

containing the original recall language. In contrast, the FDA database archive limits the review 

of the original recall language once the recall investigation has been closed.

While the information gathered and maintained by the governmental agencies responsible for 

overseeing food safety recalls is fairly comprehensive, it contains very limited economic data. 

While the recall notice may document the amount of product recalled, the value of recalled 

product, the number of farmers or markets affected, etc., are not included. It may not be clear 

from a notice if the recalled food is unprocessed, minimally processed, or substantially 

processed. The Contractor could not identify any agency within the government or any 

academic center that regularly or periodically assesses the economic impact of a recall. 

Furthermore, the majority of recalls are made on processed foods which are not afforded 

insurance coverage under the Act (see Appendix D, Exhibits 3 and 4). Considering the total 

quantity and value of specialty foods sold each year, there have been relatively few recalls of 

unprocessed or minimally processed specialty food crops in the last 12 years (Table 4). Recalls 

of unprocessed or minimally processed specialty food crops have averaged approximately nine 

per year.

 

31 Ohio Department of Health, 2014, "Class I" food product recall announcements, 

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/alerts/food/foodrecall.aspx, accessed November 2014
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Table 4. The Frequency of Unprocessed and Minimally Processed Specialty Food Crops Recalls by Crop: 

2002-2014 and 2012–2014

Number of Recalls Number of Recalls 

Specialty Food Crop 2002–2014 2012-2014 Specialty Food Crop 2002–2014 2012-2014

Alfalfa Sprouts 3 Mushrooms 3 2

Almonds 1 1 Nectarines 3

Apple 5 Olives 2

Avocado 1 Onions 5

Beets 2 1 Orange 2

Cacao 1 Papaya 1

Cantaloupe 13 3 Parsley 1 1

Cilantro 2 2 Peaches 4 3

Carrot 3 Peanuts 1

Chile Peppers 1 Peppers 2 2

Chili Beans 1 Pistachio 1 1

Cilantro 2 Plums 3 3

Dark Red Kidney Beans 1 Pluots 2 2

Dry Peas 1 Pomegranate 1

Garbanzo Beans 1 Potatoes 2

Green Beans 5 Romaine Lettuce 10 3

Greens 1 Spinach 5 2

Honeydew 1 1 Tomato 5 5

Jalapeno Peppers 1 Turnip Greens 1

Kale 1 Walnuts 1

Macadamia 1 1 Wheatgrass 1

Mangoes 3 2

Source: The Contractor‘s Research Department after FDA and FSIS published Recall Notices 2012 through 2014
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Data Sufficiency

From 2012 through 2014 FDA and FSIS have published more than 870 recall notices. The 

Contractor has identified 35 of these involved unprocessed or minimally processed specialty 

food crops, about 4 percent of the total recall notices. The remainder involved meats or other 

animal products, fish, processed (canned, frozen, etc.) specialty food crops, processed 

commodities other than specialty crops, or other commodity. Since 2002, there have been 1,840 

food recalls, of which 1,054 had a biological basis. These cases involved bacterial or viral 

contamination rather than improper labelling or chemical or physical contaminants. The data 

published by the FDA includes the date of the initial recall and any updates; the name of the 

entity implementing the recall; contact information for the consumer; the area, region, states 

affected by the recall; the description of the product(s) subject to the recall including UPC Code, 

label numbers, lot numbers and date(s) of manufacture or packaging; an estimate of the amount 

of product being recalled; the reason for the recall; the specific contaminant (if known); and a 

photo of the product, if available.

In the past two years Salmonella has been cited as the contaminating agent in food recalls 176 

times, closely followed by Listeria which was cited in 169 recalls. E. coli has been cited 30 

times. Other causes of recall have been cited 496 times. The other causes of recall have 

included contaminants such as pencils, gloves, metal fragments, plastics, and glass, as well as 

inspection discrepancies, mislabeling, sulfites, cadmium, lead, discoloration, etc. In the 36 recall 

notices involving unprocessed or minimally processed specialty food crops published from 2012 

through 2014, 18 cited Salmonella, 14 cited Listeria, and 2 cited E. coli as the contaminant. 

Only 4 cited other causes for the recall.

The data sources are sufficient for determining historical frequency of recalls for each 

contaminant. Some of the gaps in the data identified during the course of the study include the 

notices not including quantities of product recalled. Some recall notices for specialty food crops

identify recall amounts in pounds, others identify the amounts in cases, while still others identify 

amounts by lot or not at all. This lack of precision will require substantial additional research to 

construct a dataset suitable for an insurance product development.

Another element in the current food safety recall datasets that would require additional research 

for improvement of an insurance development dataset is the issue of whether the recalled product 

has been processed prior to the recall. Furthermore, the economic impacts of recalls are not 

clearly documented in any database resource identified by the Contractor. Finally, the recall 

process, by construct, does not identify contaminated food until after it has been distributed. 

Recalls are not initiated at the farm gate.
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SECTION VII. IMPEDIMENTS TO IMPLEMENTATION

The Contractor identified six categories of potential impediments to the implementation of 

Specialty Crop Food Safety and Contamination Issues Insurance. These are:

 Legislative Impediments;

 Policy Language Impediments;

 Procedural Impediments;

 Impediments Resulting from Lack of Available FCIC Crop-specific Coverage;

 Actuarial Impediments; and

 Logistic impediments;

While none of these impediments introduces a completely insurmountable barrier in and of itself 

to the offer of FCIC Specialty Crop Food Safety and Contamination Issues Insurance, many 

require a substantial change from the paradigm upon which the current FCIC insurance offers are 

based. This section introduces the impediments to offering coverage under current law and 

procedures. An overview of the steps that would be required to overcome each of the 

impediments is provided in Attachment I.

Legislative Impediments

The only mention of food safety or of recall in the Agricultural Adjustment Act Of 1938 &

Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. Chapter 36) is in Subchapter I Title V Section 522 (23) 

(A) and (B), in the language authorizing the study reported herein. Yet, the Contractor identified 

three specific sections of the Act that introduce impediments to the offer of insurance of food 

safety and contamination issues. The first two are in 7 U.S. Code § 1508 Subsection (a) 

“AUTHORITY TO OFFER INSURANCE — .” They are marked in bold for emphasis by the 

Contractor below:

“(1) IN GENERAL.—If sufficient actuarial data are available32 (as determined 

by the Corporation), the Corporation may insure, or provide reinsurance for 

insurers of, producers of agricultural commodities grown in the United States 

under 1 [one] or more plans of insurance determined by the Corporation to be 

adapted to the agricultural commodity concerned. To qualify for coverage 

under a plan of insurance, the losses of the insured commodity must be due to 

drought, flood, or other natural disaster (as determined by the Secretary).”1

Data are essential to the offer of reasonable insurance contracts. The Act recognizes the essential 

role of sufficient data in the development of crop insurance. The sporadic and unique nature of 

food safety and contamination events makes it challenging to incorporate food safety and 

contamination perils into the traditional crop insurance paradigm. However, since no legislative 

action regarding data sufficiency is required should the Corporation “determine” sufficient 

actuarial data are available, the Contractor believes further discussion of data issues under the 

topic heading: “Actuarial Impediments” is most appropriate.

In contrast, the issue of providing FCIC coverage for “natural disasters” introduces a substantial 

legislative impediment to the offer of food safety and contamination issues insurance by the 

 

32 Emphasis added.
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Government. The difficulties with such an offer resulting from the requirement for a “natural 

disaster” cause of loss are discussed below.

Foods can be tainted with chemicals, physical materials, and biological contaminants. In a crop 

insurance loss adjustment, production contaminated with chemicals or physical objects will most 

likely be determined to result from human (i.e., man-made) actions. Regardless of whether these 

actions were carried out by the insured or a third party, the losses cannot logically be 

indemnified by a crop insurance product. Insurance is a financial contract wherein the insurer 

agrees to indemnify the insured against loss resulting from a specified contingency or risk. 

While a deliberate action may be perilous, it is neither a contingency nor a risk as that term is 

used in insurance.

Negligent contamination of a crop would include among a plurality of such causes: irrigating the 

crop with contaminated water, allowing chemical sprays to drift over a crop, or accidentally 

applying the wrong fertilizer or pesticide. Losses due to negligent third-party origins of 

chemical contamination might be indemnified by liability insurance held by that third party, but 

they do not logically fall under the purview of a crop insurance policy. Losses resulting from 

such negligent actions by the insured are de facto uninsurable. The risks of negligent acts cannot 

be known or quantified. Additionally, insurance for negligent actions may prompt such actions 

in certain circumstances (i.e., they might provide perverse incentives that encourage 

inappropriate behavior on the part of the insured). Therefore an appropriate premium for such 

insurance cannot be calculated. The impediments to insuring the risks associated with negligent 

contamination are insurmountable. Furthermore, the Act precludes insurance of negligent 

actions by an insured under 7 U.S.C 1508 (a)(3)(A)(i).

Consequently, the remainder of this report will address food safety scenarios with an emphasis 

on contamination by biological agents causing food poisoning. There are many potential 

contaminating agents. Specifics for the most common causes of food poisoning are provided 

below.

Listeria monocytogenes, (L. monocytogenes) is a microorganism that may contaminate food. L. 

monocytogenes is endemic, abundant, and pervasive in the environment. It is particularly 

common in moist environments, soil and decaying vegetation. Consequently Listeria may 

contaminate crops incidentally, as a result of the crop production, even when the crop is 

managed properly. Healthy individuals infected with L. monocytogenes often experience only 

short-term symptoms including headache, fever, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. 

However, L. monocytogenes infections are sometimes fatal in infants, young children, the 

elderly, and others with weak immune systems. L. monocytogenes infection can cause 

miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant woman. The ubiquitous nature of the species in 

crop-production environments and the persistence of L. monocytogenes in food-manufacturing 

environments once they are contaminated make this organism particularly problematic as a cause 

of food safety and contamination issues.
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Escherichia coli (E. coli) are common digestive system bacteria. Cattle, sheep, goats, and 

humans all have E. coli in their intestines,

33 as do many avian and mammalian species of 

wildlife.

34

 While most strains of E. coli are harmless, some strains contaminating food can cause 

serious illness. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli that produce Shiga toxin cause diarrhea, and may 

cause blood‐clotting problems, kidney failure, and death. The enterohemorrhagic E. coli 

includes the E. coli O157:H7 strain. Outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 have been traced to ground 

meats, “raw” milk, unpasteurized fruit juice, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and frozen cookie dough. 

Most people recover from E. coli O157:H7 infections without specific treatment. However, 

some people can develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Severe cases of HUS can lead to 

kidney damage and death.

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria common in the digestive tract of birds (both wild and 

domesticated), reptiles, and some mammals. The genera Salmonella and Escherichia are in the 

same family. Due to the prevalence of Salmonella in animal digestive tracts, they are also 

common in the soil and in some aquatic environments. The most common symptoms of 

salmonella food poisoning are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. These symptoms 

generally develop within 8 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts 

four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. However, salmonellosis can be 

severe or even life-threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women, and people with 

weakened immune systems.

Other bacteria causing food safety and contamination issues include Bacillus cereus, 

Campylobacter spp., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perefringens, Shigella spp., 

Staphylococcus spp., and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. B. cereus, Campylobacter spp., C.

botulinum, C. perefringens, and Staphylococcus spp. are ubiquitous in the environment, 

including sites of agricultural production. Vibrio spp. are common in marine environments. 

Sources of bacteria that can caused food safety and contamination issues include soil (C.

botulinum, C. perefringens, and Staphylococcus spp.), human feces (Campylobacter spp., C.

perefringens, Shigella spp., Staphylococcus spp., and V. parahaemolyticus), livestock feces 

(Campylobacter spp., C. botulinum, C. perefringens, Staphylococcus spp.), and wildlife feces

(Campylobacter spp., C. botulinum, C. perefringens, Staphylococcus spp).

Consequently, food safety and contamination issues resulting from bacteria can be categorized 

as:

 Completely natural (resulting from contamination of an insured’s production by wildlife 

(including wild birds);

 Fundamentally natural (resulting from contamination of an insured’s production by a 

ubiquitous food poisoning agent, but with the possibility of poor management practices 

having contributed to the issue);

 

33 U.S. Department of Health & Human Service, 2014, E. coli, 

http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/ecoli/, accessed November, 2014.

34 Somarelli, J.A., J.C. Makarewicz, R. Sia and R. Simon, 2007, Wildlife identified as major source of Escherichia coli in 

agriculturally dominated watersheds by BOX A1R derived genetic fingerprints, J Environ Manage. 82:60-65.
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 Questionably natural (resulting from contamination of an insured’s production by a food 

poisoning agent carried primarily by humans35);

 Essentially man-made (resulting from a recall because of contamination of production 

other than that of an insured’s by a food poisoning agent carried primarily by wildlife);

 Almost unquestionably of human origin (resulting from a recall because of contamination 

of production other than that of an insured’s by a food poisoning agent carried 

exclusively by humans).

In this last case, the Contractor employs the adverb “almost” to acknowledge that even the 

organisms carried exclusively by humans are themselves part of nature and may contaminate 

agricultural production even when good management practices are employed.

Viruses causing food safety and contamination issues include Hepatitis, Norovirus, and

Rotavirus. It is unusual for these agents to contaminate unprocessed produce. Instead, 

contamination by these viruses results primarily from poor human hygiene and is evident 

primarily when processed specialty crop foods are contaminated by food handlers.

Finally, parasites (e.g., Giardia from dogs and cats and Cryptosporidium spp. from livestock or 

wildlife feces) and fungi (e.g., mold from soils or decaying organic matter) are occasionally 

causative in food poisoning incidents. A full discourse on the etiology, biology, and clinical 

characteristics of food poisoning is beyond the scope of this study. The reader will find 

additional details on food safety and the causes of food poisoning in a variety of sources, 

including useful resources from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 36 Nonetheless, in 

considering the impediments to insuring food safety and contamination issues when an organism 

is the contaminant, it is important to understand that knowledge of the contaminating organism 

and its source are vital. The source of contaminations affects the insurability of the food safety 

and contaminations issues. The nature of contaminating organism affects the frequency of the 

risk to producers (which is independent of the risk to consumers of the contaminated food). 

Furthermore, the severity of a loss to a crop producer from a food safety and contamination issue 

is likely correlated with the perception of the public about the severity of the risk to the public if 

the contaminated food is consumed. These issues of the contaminating organism and the 

frequency of a species as a source for recall are discussed further in the section on data 

availability.

Direct and Collateral Impacts of Contamination

As noted previously, foodborne illness caused by biological contamination of fresh produce may 

affect producers other than the growers whose produce was contaminated. The producers who 

lose production because of contamination are experiencing a direct effect of the food safety 

issue. Producers who do not experience damage to their production from a contaminant may 

nonetheless experience lost revenue. Publicity about a food-borne illness outbreak may impact 

sales of production (i.e., reduce demand) regardless of whether the product currently being sold 

 

35 The Contractor notes that humans are natural organisms. However, the precedent in interpretation of the “natural disaster” 

language is that human actions are excluded as insurable causes of loss.

36 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, 2012, Bad Bug Book: Foodborne Pathogenic 

Microorganisms and Natural Toxins. Second Edition, 

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodSafety/FoodborneIllness/FoodborneIllnessFoodbornePathogensNaturalToxins/BadB

ugBook/UCM297627.pdf, accessed November, 2014.
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might itself be contaminated. If demand for a recalled crop falls sharply, a price decline may 

affect revenue even well outside the locale of the recall. Consequently, it is not unknown for 

prices to drop for all producers of the crop as a result of a food safety recall. The Contractor 

considers this indirect effect to be a collateral impact of the contamination. The Act provides 

legal authority for crop insurance coverage of price changes. Such coverage is available for 

crops insured under revenue plans of insurance. There is no exclusion in the Act for the offer of 

revenue insurance for specialty food crops. Thus the only question relevant to the price decline 

is whether it was the result of an insurable cause of loss.

While the authority to indemnify losses from completely natural food safety and contamination 

issues is granted by 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(1), authority to insure losses in the other categories are at 

best ambiguous. In light of the precedents set in interpretation of 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(1), any 

FCIC offer of insurance for collateral damage resulting from human actions regarding food 

safety and contamination issues would require additional legislative authority. Such collateral 

damage has heretofore been treated as man-made. Having been made by man, it has not been 

treated as natural.

A third legislative impediment to insuring food safety and contamination issues is found in 7 

U.S.C. 1508 (a) (2) which reads:

“PERIOD.—Except in the cases of tobacco, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, 

insurance shall not extend beyond the period during which the insured commodity 

is in the field....”

Losses from food safety and contamination issues, especially collateral damage losses, are likely 

to occur either because a crop cannot be timely harvested, or because a timely harvested crop 

cannot be sold. Indemnification of losses resulting from a failure to timely harvest the crop are 

generally excluded either by language in 7 U.S.C. 1508 (a)(3)(A)(iii), which states: “Insurance 

provided under this subsection shall not cover losses due to... the failure of the producer to 

follow good farming practices.” This exclusion is re-emphasized in policy language. The 

language of 7 U.S.C. 1508 (a)(2) generally excludes the indemnification of losses of crops which 

have been harvested (i.e., which is generally considered to be taken from the field) but could not 

be timely sold. A notable exception is potatoes placed in storage, which can be indemnified if 

they were infected prior to leaving the field and the infection manifested itself while the crop is

in storage (e.g., the Northern Potato Storage Coverage Endorsement 08-084d). Sweet potatoes 

lost in storage to an insured cause of loss that occurred in the field would likewise be 

indemnifiable.

In addition to the impediments detailed above, the following language from U.S.C. 1508 (m) is 

relevant to the legislative authority to provide coverage for food safety issues:

QUALITY LOSS ADJUSTMENT COVERAGE.—

(1) EFFECT OF COVERAGE.—If a policy or plan of insurance offered under 

this subtitle includes quality loss adjustment coverage, the coverage shall 

provide for a reduction in the quantity of production of the agricultural 

commodity considered produced during a crop year, or a similar 

adjustment, as a result of the agricultural commodity not meeting the 

quality standards established in the policy or plan of insurance.

(2) ADDITIONAL QUALITY LOSS ADJUSTMENT.—
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(A) PRODUCER OPTION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

in addition to the quality loss adjustment coverage available under 

paragraph (1), the Corporation shall offer producers the option of 

purchasing quality loss adjustment coverage on a basis that is smaller 

than a unit with respect to an agricultural commodity that satisfies 

each of the following:

(i) The agricultural commodity is sold on an identity-preserved 

basis.

(ii) All quality determinations are made solely by the Federal 

agency designated to grade or classify the agricultural 

commodity.

(iii) All quality determinations are made in accordance with 

standards published by the Federal agency in the Federal 

Register.

37”

The specific requirements in (m)(2)(A)(i) through (m)(2)(A)(iii) limit the possibility for quality 

adjustments for some specialty food crops, even if the restrictions of 7 U.S.C. 1508 (a)(1) and 7 

U.S.C. 1508 (a)(2) are not an issue. Irrespective of this, the language applies only to the 

production of an individual producer. It does not extend to a crop that is lost in the field due to 

natural causes because a recall has been initiated by some third party.

Impediment in the Policy Language

As noted earlier, 75 specialty food crops currently have some crop-specific multi-peril crop 

insurance coverage provided by the FCIC. Coverage is offered for 53 specialty food crops under 

the APH plan; for 15 under the DOL plan; for 4 under the ARH plan; for 1 under the PRV plan; 

and for 2 with the offer of YP, RP, and RPHPE. The policy for each of these crops consists of 

three policy documents: The Basic Provisions, the Crop Provisions, and the Special Provisions. 

Basic Provision section 12 addresses causes of loss.

12. Causes of Loss.

Insurance is provided only to protect against unavoidable, naturally 

occurring events. A list of the covered naturally occurring events is contained 

in the applicable Crop Provisions. All other causes of loss, including but not 

limited to the following, are NOT covered:

(b) Any act by any person that affects the yield, quality or price of the 

insured crop (e.g., chemical drift, fire, terrorism, etc.);”

Furthermore, section 13 of the Crop Provisions (Table 5) contains a statement that specifically 

identifies failure to harvest in a timely manner as an uninsurable cause of loss.

 

37 Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 & Federal Crop Insurance Act [as Amended Through P.L. 113–79, Enacted February 7, 

2014], TITLE V—CROP INSURANCE, Subtitle A—Federal Crop Insurance Act, SEC. 508. (7 U.S.C. 1508).
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Table 5. Specialty Food Crop Provisions Specifically Addressing Failure to Harvest in a 

Timely Manner as an Uninsurable Cause of Loss

Provision 

Number Provision Title Provision Number Provision Title

11-0105 Fresh Market Bean Crop Provisions 12-0215-47 ARH Citrus Pilot Crop Provisions

05-012 Blueberry Crop Provisions 15-0154 ARH - Strawberry Pilot Crop Provisions

12-0470 Pistachio (Pilot) Crop Provisions 2010-045 Pilot Processing Chile Pepper Crop 

Provisions

09-0147 Processing Pumpkin Crop Provisions 08-0044 Fresh Market Sweet Corn Crop Provisions

05-087 Processing Tomato Crop Provisions 13-0086 Fresh Market Tomato (Dollar Plan) Crop 

Provisions

14-0057-

Sweet Sweet Cherry Pilot Crop Provisions 99-083 Fresh Market Pepper Crop Provisions

15-0057-

Tart

Tart Cherry for Processing Pilot Crop 

Provisions

Source: The Contractor’s Underwriting Department after USDA RMA Crop Provisions.

Nearly two thirds of the crop provisions contain a version of a general marketing exclusionary 

statement in their causes of loss section (Table 6). This statement identifies losses associated 

with the inability to market the crop as not insurable.

“In addition to the causes of loss excluded in section 12 (Causes of Loss) of the 

Basic Provisions, we will not insure against damage or loss of production due to 

the inability to market the [covered crop] for any reason other than actual 

physical damage to the [covered crop] from an insurable cause specified in this 

section. For example, we will not pay you an indemnity if you are unable to 

market due to quarantine, boycott, or refusal of any person to accept production.”

While this statement does not specifically identify recalls as a reason the producer may 

experience an inability to market their product, recalls are in the same category of obstacles to 

marketing as quarantine, boycott, and refusal of any person to accept production; recalls are also 

a man-made obstruction, even if the event triggering the recall is natural.
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Table 6. Specialty Food Crop Provisions with a General Marketing Exclusion 

Provision 

Number Provision Title Provision Number Provision Title

08-028 Almond Crop Provisions 14-0501 Olive Crop Provisions

11-0054 Apple Crop Provisions 13-0034 Peach Crop Provisions

12-0215 ARH Citrus Pilot Crop Provisions 15-0089 Pear Crop Provisions

15-0126 Arizona-California Citrus Crop 

Provisions 14-0020 Pecan Revenue Crop Provisions

05-012 Blueberry Crop Provisions 12-0470 Pistachio (Pilot) Crop Provisions

11-0072 Cabbage Crop Insurance Provisions 13-0036 Prune Crop Provisions

12-0019 California APH Avocado Pilot 

Provisions 98-037 Raisin Crop Provisions

99-058 Cranberry Crop Provisions 11-077 Stonefruit Crop Provisions

01-060 Fig Crop Provisions 15-0154 ARH - Strawberry Pilot Crop Provisions

14-0026 Florida Citrus Fruit Crop Provisions 14-0057-

Sweet Sweet Cherry Pilot Crop Provisions

08-044 Fresh Market Sweet Corn Crop 

Provisions 14-0156 Sweet Potato Crop Provisions

13-0086 Fresh Market Tomato (Dollar Plan) Crop 

Provisions 10-0052 Table Grape Crop Provisions

10-0053 Grape Crop Provisions 15-0057-

Tart

Tart Cherry for Processing Pilot Crop 

Provisions

11-0255 Hawaii Tropical Fruit Pilot Crop 

Provisions 00-226 Texas Citrus Fruit Crop Provisions

12-0023 Macadamia Nut Crop Provisions 08-029 Walnut Crop Provisions

08-073 Nursery Crop Provisions

Source: The Contractor’s Underwriting Department after USDA RMA Crop Provisions.

The term “recall” does not appear in the WFRP Provisions as an insurable or excluded cause of 

loss. However, WFRP Provision 21(d) indicates: 

“Decline in local market price will be presumed to be from unavoidable natural 

causes unless the Company [i.e., an Approved Insurance Provider (AIP)] or 

FCIC is able to specifically identify a man-made cause that resulted in a 

measurable change in the price. In the case of such occurrence, the portion of 

the loss caused by the man-made event will not be covered.

38

”

Thus while the initial cause of a recall may be natural, if the recall itself is considered man-made, 

the AIP is expected not to cover losses caused by the recall in a WFRP indemnity. It is worth 

noting that market price change coverage is common for many commodity crops. The policies 

for these crops often include a similar exclusion. However, the Contractor was unable to identify 

any instance where FCIC or an AIP has specifically identified a man-made cause that resulted in 

a measurable change in price. Indeed, even if a widespread contamination outbreak were 

specifically associated with a specialty crop and prices for non-contaminated production fell 

sharply at the same time, linking the price shift to the man-made event or assigning a portion of 

the price reduction to the man-made event would be challenging as a practical matter.

The language above from the Basic Provisions and the Crop Provisions is the policy language 

that introduces impediments to implementation of recall insurance for specialty food crops. The 

 

38 Emphasis added.
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Contractor identified no specific language in Special Provisions which introduces additional 

impediments.

Procedural Impediments

The procedures for implementation of crop insurance plans and policies are contained in 

numerous handbooks, bulletins and memoranda issued by RMA and distributed to AIPs and their 

agents. The Contractor limited the review of these documents to the 2014 Crop Insurance 

Handbook (CIH: FCIC 18010-01(08-2013)), the slipsheets for the CIH for 2015 (FCIC 18010-

3(6-2014)), the 2014 Loss Adjustment Manual (LAM) Standards Handbook (25010-1(01/2014):

Updated Handbook including slipsheets), and the 2015 Good Farming Determination Standards 

Handbook (FCIC-14060 (10/2014)) as these are the documents most likely to address food safety 

issues. Recall, food safety, and contamination are not explicitly mentioned in any of these 

documents. There are limited mentions of timely harvest, though none of these per se would 

impact implementation of a food safety and contamination insurance offer. Most address very 

specific circumstances for individual crops (e.g., dry beans). The only procedural impediment 

the Contractor identified was the absence of an appropriate loss identification code in Appendix 

III of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA). Such a code would be required to monitor 

the losses for premium rate-making purposes should food safety issues be an approved insured 

cause of loss. An alternative would be to allow the disease code to be used for contamination by 

food poisoning organisms, although that would limit the utility of the data in monitoring food 

safety issue losses.

Impediments Due to Lack of Available FCIC Crop-specific Coverage

If recall insurance were offered as an element of or an endorsement to existing crop-specific 

policies, more than half the specialty food crops identified by AMS and listed in Appendix A of 

this report would not have crop-specific coverage available. This situation has the potential to 

exacerbate any existing distortion in the specialty food crops markets created by the current 

insurance offers. One of the feasibility requirements identified by RMA for the development of 

a new insurance offer is that markets not be distorted. In the absence of a rigorous development 

effort, it is impossible to know if the market distortion created by adding food safety and 

contamination issues as an insured cause of loss under existing policies would be acceptable (i.e., 

limited or incidental market distortion) or unacceptable (major market distortion). Moreover, it 

is reasonable to assume the potential scope for frequency and severity of these events will vary 

by crop, region, and through time. Impediments to accounting for these risks actuarially are 

considered in the next section.

Actuarial Impediments

As noted earlier, data are the foundation of any insurance development. The most challenging 

insurance rating is for rare events whose severity is difficult to quantify. As the Contractor noted 

in the “Specialty Food Crop Recall Data” section, food safety issues as defined in the contract

have been infrequent. However, there are substantial government archives of food safety to 

provide data about the frequency of recalls. These can be mined to establish the limited 

frequency of major food safety issues that might be traced to the farm level. The archived 

records include information about the food that was recalled, and generally include information 

about the geographic region affected by the recall (although these records rarely pinpoint the 

location of the contaminated production to the county level).
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In contrast, quantitative data on the severity of the impact of food safety and contamination 

issues on producers are generally limited. Anecdotal accounts may address delayed harvests, 

reduction in prices (due to quality losses or market collapse), marketability, and lost sales. The 

Contractor found no source of severity of food safety and contamination issue loss data that were 

collected by a consistent approach. While this is not an insurmountable barrier to implementing 

insurance for food safety and contamination issues (see Attachment I), it does limit the ability of 

a developer to identify appropriate rates for an offer. This may in turn introduce issues during a 

policy submission package expert review which may in turn impact the acceptability of the 

submission package to the FCIC Board. Therefore the submission package might be rejected 

under the requirements of 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(1).

To further exacerbate these actuarial issues, during the study few respondents expressed interest 

in paying any significant amount of premium for food safety and contamination issues insurance. 

If the market for such insurance is very small relative to the whole producer population, there is 

greater risk the premium income will be insufficient to pay the expected losses even if the 

premium rates are accurately determined. This, of course, depends on the scope of the coverage 

that is implemented. If it is offered on a crop by crop basis as an optional coverage, premium 

rates necessarily will be higher due to the uncertainty that a recall will affect that particular crop 

and due to the adverse selection that may occur. If coverage is offered as an additional feature of 

every crop provisions, the risk can be spread across all crops and producers (much the same as 

prevented planting coverage). The additional load on the premium rate may be a relatively small 

amount relative to the premium rate already charged.

Logistic Impediments

The specialty food crop recalled; the contamination of the insured crop or lack of such 

contamination; the insurability of the crops under current plans and policies; the level of 

processing of the recalled specialty crop food; the ability to sell the crop; the timeliness of 

harvest; and the reduction in price actually realized are all variables that might influence a food 

safety and contamination issues insurance offer. Consequently, there are innumerable potential 

scenarios involving specialty food crops safety and contamination. Unless food safety issues are 

addressed in a newly developed, stand-alone food safety and contamination issues insurance 

policy, the interaction of these many variables create a potential logistical challenge for provision 

of crop insurance for food safety and contamination issues. Already insured crops will need to 

be treated differently from crops that do not currently have crop-specific insurance available. 

Leveling the playing field between already insured and uninsured crops would require more than 

simply providing coverage under the WFRP plan. Losses of crops that are directly contaminated 

would need to be addressed through different provisions and procedures than losses that result 

from collateral damage. Losses due to abandoned production and losses due to price collapse 

would need to be addressed for both direct and collateral impacts.

A crop by crop modification of existing insurance coverage would require substantial funding. 

Furthermore, each of the crop by crop development activities would likely require a time 

consuming research effort primarily to develop premium rates for that crop. Even with an 

extremely aggressive schedule, neither the current pool of agricultural consultants who address 

crop insurance issues nor RMA have the human resources to complete the required research and 
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development projects to implement insurance coverage for yield or revenue-based losses caused 

by food safety issues on a crop-by-crop basis in a timely fashion.

There are alternatives within the crop insurance model for developing insurance coverages. 

Endorsements to existing policies provide a voluntary way of providing additional coverage but 

are subject to adverse selection. Generalized terms within the Common Crop Insurance Policy 

Basic Provisions or the WFRP policy, with the proviso that supplementary terms may be 

provided by a crop provisions or a special provisions, are another method. In the latter case, the 

coverage becomes a mandatory feature of the policy protection. If recall coverage is identified 

as a desirable public policy goal, inclusion of that coverage in the Basic Provisions and/or the 

WFRP would be the most efficient manner to achieve it.

Overcoming These Impediments

The Contractor provides an overview of actions necessary to develop insurance for food safety 

and contamination issues, including actions that could be undertaken to address and overcome 

the identified impediments to implementation, in Attachment I.
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SECTION VIII. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The SOW stated four objectives. A brief summary of findings is provided for each.

a) To “determine if providing food safety and contamination coverage would benefit 

agricultural producers of specialty crops.”

Providing food safety and contamination issues crop insurance coverage would benefit some

producers of specialty crops. However, the losses from those food safety issues are rare and the 

interest in such insurance appears to be limited. No producers provided input for the study 

which indicated interest. Further, the low interest in a broadly similar coverage, the Quarantine 

Pilot Endorsement, may be indicative of the potential interest in recall insurance that pays an 

indemnity for losses in the field due to inability to market as a result of a recall. One commenter 

suggested producers would have interest in recall liability insurance (responsibility for damages 

incurred by other parties). Such insurance is beyond the scope of the study and the legislation 

that directed it be undertaken.

b) To “help specialty crop producers and Congress understand how these risks are 

already being, or could be addressed by the crop insurance system.”

The existing crop insurance paradigm limits coverage to losses directly affecting an insured crop 

due to adverse natural causes, not man-made events. Failure to timely harvest for any reason, or 

deterioration of production due to quarantine (very similar in effect to a recall), boycott, or 

refusal of any buyer to accept production are not insurable causes of loss. Thus, if a recall causes 

consumers to avoid a product or commodity resulting in a loss of market opportunities for 

producers, no liability accrues under the crop insurance program.

Some insurance policies contain quality adjustment provisions that reduce the production to 

count due to failure to meet designated standards. These provisions, if they exist in a specific 

crop provisions for a specific specialty crop, may or may not apply for the individual producer 

whose production is DIRECTLY affected by the reason for the recall. A recall, by its nature,

means the product or commodity has entered the wholesale and retail food distribution channels. 

This occurs after removal of the commodity from the field or environment in which it was grown 

and typically after handling and processing of some sort. It could be difficult for the producer to 

demonstrate that the causal agent for the recall existed in the commodity before harvest. 

However, the present crop insurance policies, even with quality standards, would not extend 

relief to any producer whose production is not affected by the contaminating agent but cannot be 

marketed due to the effects of the recall.

Addressing these risks requires a change in the crop insurance paradigm. The Quarantine 

Endorsement available for two crops in several counties in California provides a model for that 

change.

c) To “find and evaluate any existing policies or plans of insurance on specialty crops that 

provide coverage for food safety concerns (i.e. government, retail, or national consumer 

group announcements of health advisory, product removal, or product recall related to 

a contamination concern) to help make this determination.”
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The Contractor was able to identify the quarantine endorsement reinsured by FCIC as an existing 

policy or plan of insurance that provides coverage for food safety concerns and that includes 

losses suffered by producers due to a man-made event (although that event is precipitated by the 

presence of some disease vector). As discussed in d) below, its applicability is a legal question. 

Many crop insurance policies, most of which do not cover specialty crops, do include quality 

provisions that reduce the production to count in the event mycotoxins or other substances 

injurious to human health are present. The FDA and USDA announce the existence of a recall 

action that falls within the purview of the respective Agency; however, the recall action itself 

must be initiated by a producer, a handler, a retailer, or similar entity that handles the 

commodity. There appears to be no systematic system to compensate producers for a “specialty 

crop ... lost in field due to physical deterioration by natural causes” that results from a recall of 

the production of another producer or that results from contamination introduced in the 

marketing chain. Producers perhaps could pursue tort actions in civil courts as an alternative; 

such actions typically are expensive and lengthy.

d) To “determine what practical challenges are present that need to be overcome in order 

to create actuarially sound products related to these food safety risks.”

The Contractor does not believe there are sufficient quantitative data to support a statistical 

approach to developing appropriate premium rates. A qualitative or judgmental approach will be 

needed. The Delphi method is an alternative used for complex issues that cannot be modeled. 

Hence, lack of sufficient quantitative data can be surmounted.

Ultimately, the Contractor identified six categories of potential impediments to the 

implementation of Specialty Crop Food Safety and Contamination Issues Insurance, including 

legislation, policy language, regulatory, actuarial, and logistic impediments, as well as 

impediments resulting from lack of currently available FCIC crop-specific coverage for a 

number of specialty crops. While none of these impediments introduces a completely 

insurmountable barrier to the offer of insurance, many require a substantial change from the 

paradigm upon which the current FCIC insurance offers are based.

The scope of the challenges depends in part on the chosen avenue for implementation if recall 

coverage is deemed to be a public policy initiative that should be undertaken. The most timeconsuming and costly approach would be a crop by crop, location by location, development of 

amendments to each existing crop insurance policy and rating. The most expeditious approach 

would be to incorporate recall coverage into the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic 

Provisions and the Whole Farm Revenue Protection provisions (i.e., making recall coverage a 

mandatory element of the crop insurance program) with generalized terms that could be amended 

via the special provisions. A generalized premium rate load could be established subject to 

refinement as experience dictates. Alternatively, the specialty crops could be assorted into 

categories (such as higher, medium, lower risk) with a common initial premium rate load for all 

crops in each category, again subject to refinement as experience dictates.
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Appendix A

USDA AMS List of Specialty Crops
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USDA Definition of Specialty Crop

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this document is to facilitate coordination among the various US Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) agencies with programs that address the needs of specialty crop producers, handlers and processors. 

Although a common definition of specialty crops across these agencies is desirable for USDA stakeholders and 

customers, it is also recognized that the mission of each agency is unique and so the application of a common 

definition might vary. It is also recognized that individual states may wish to modify the definition used by 

USDA to satisfy local or regional needs. The agencies involved in this effort were the Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS), the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), 

the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), U.S. Forest Service 

(FS), the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Risk Management Agency (RMA).

WHAT ARE SPECIALTY CROPS?

Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and 

nursery crops, including floriculture.” This definition, although more exact than previous legal definitions, 

leaves a certain amount of latitude in interpretation. Fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops and 

floricultural crops are all considered to be horticultural crops. Regardless, the specific mention of these crop 

groups means that plants so classified automatically qualify as specialty crops. Where interpretation is 

needed is in which plants, not specifically mentioned in legislation, can be classified as horticulture (sic) 

crops.

WHAT IS HORTICULTURE?

Horticulture is defined as that branch of agriculture concerned with growing plants that are used by people 

for food, for medicinal purposes, and for aesthetic gratification. Horticulture is divided into specializations. 

The terms used to describe these specializations derive from millennia of common usage and are sometimes 

at odds with botanical nomenclature. For example, vegetables are described as herbaceous plants of which 

some portion is eaten raw or cooked during the main part of a meal. Fruits, for horticultural purposes, are 

described as plants from which a more or less succulent fruit or closely related botanical structure is 

commonly eaten as a dessert or snack. By these definitions, plants such as tomato, squash and cucumber are 

considered vegetables despite the fact that the edible portion is defined botanically as a fruit. The delineation 

of plants by common usage was legally established in 1893 by the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in 

the case of Nix vs. Hedden – 149 U.S. 304.

Over the last 60 years, agriculture, including horticulture, has become increasingly reliant on science and 

technology to maintain profitable production. The scientific study of horticulture is divided into various subdisciplines. Pomology is defined as that branch of horticulture dealing with fruit and tree nut production. 

Fruit production includes the so-called tree fruits; such as apple, peach, and orange, and small fruits; such as 

strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry. Olericulture is defined as that branch of horticulture dealing with the 

production of vegetables and herbs. Floriculture is that branch of horticulture dealing with the production of 

field-grown or greenhouse-grown plants for their flowers or showy leaves. Environmental horticulture is that 

branch of horticulture that deals with the production of plants for ornamental use in constructed 

environments, both indoors and outdoors.
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There are many facets to environmental horticulture. Nursery production involves growing plants under 

intensive management for use in another location. Nurseries are defined in a variety of ways:

a) the type of plant grown, such as fruit tree, turf or Christmas tree nurseries;

b) the function of the nursery, such as production, wholesale, retail, mail-order or landscape nurseries; 

and

c) the production system, such as field-grown or container-grown.

Landscape horticulture involves the design, installation, and maintenance of both outdoor and indoor 

environments. Public horticulture involves the design and maintenance of arboreta, public gardens, parks, 

and athletic facilities. Horticultural therapy involves the use of horticultural plants to improve the condition 

of people with physical, intellectual or emotional disabilities. Horticultural therapy also includes the use of 

plants in hospitals and other medical facilities to ease the pain and suffering of patients. Home horticulture 

involves the use of horticultural plants as a recreational activity, generally by non-professionals. Home 

horticulture is the most popular hobby in the United States with a commercial value of over $35 billion in 

2012.

WHAT ARE CROPS?

There are many definitions of the word “crop”. When referring to plants, USDA considers crops to be those 

plants that are cultivated either for sale or for subsistence. There are many plants that are specialty crops 

when cultivated, but are also collected from wild populations. Wild plants are not considered specialty crops 

even though they may be used for the same purpose as cultivated plants. This is somewhat common among 

medicinal herbs and woodland plants. There are a number of native ferns that are collected from wild 

populations for use in the floral trade. There are also a number of marine plants that are collected from wild 

populations both for direct consumption and for industrial uses. Although these are specialty uses, wild 

plants are not considered specialty crops by USDA. However, natural populations of native plants that are 

brought into cultivation, such as sugar maple trees, pecans, blueberry, huckleberry and cranberry are 

considered specialty crops by USDA. In order for a plant to be considered cultivated, some form of 

management must be applied. The intensity of the management is not critical to determining whether a plant 

is cultivated or not. This definition includes plants or plant products harvested from “wild areas” whose 

populations are managed, monitored and documented to ensure long-term, sustainable production. If a 

naturally occurring population of plants is brought under management and that plant satisfies the definition 

of specialty crop presented in the second paragraph of this document, then those plants would be considered 

specialty crops. It is common for such plants to be designated “wild-harvested” for marketing purposes. Such 

a designation does not preclude a plant from being considered a specialty crop as long as the above criteria 

are met. For the purpose of some programs in which state agencies are the eligible entities, states may choose 

to define plants collected from the wild as specialty crops.

Similarly, some cultivated plants have multiple uses. Amaranth may be grown as a leafy green, or it may be 

grown as a grain. Leafy greens are vegetables, therefore amaranth grown in such a manner would be 

considered a specialty crop. However, grains are not specialty crops, therefore amaranth grown for grain 

would not be considered a specialty crop. There are many other examples of crops with multiple uses and an 

exhaustive list would not be possible here. However, the following groups of crops are not considered 

specialty crops: grains (corn, wheat, rice, etc.), oil seed crops (canola, soy bean, camelina, etc), bio-energy 

crops (switchgrass, sugar cane, etc), forages (hay, alfalfa, clover, etc.), field crops (peanut, sugar beet, cotton, 

etc.), and plants federally controlled as illegal drug plants (cannabis, coca).
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The following appendices give examples of plants that are considered specialty crops by USDA. These 

appendices are not intended to be all-inclusive, but rather are intended to give examples of the most common 

members of the various groups.
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APPENDIX A – PLANTS COMMONLY CONSIDERED FRUITS AND TREE NUTS

Almond Grape (including Raisin)

Apple Guava

Apricot Kiwi

Avocado Litchi

Banana Macadamia

Blackberry Mango

Blueberry Nectarine

Breadfruit Olive

Cacao Papaya

Cashew Passion Fruit

Citrus Peach

Cherimoya Pear

Cherry Pecan

Chestnut (for Nuts) Persimmon

Coconut Pineapple

Coffee Pistachio

Cranberry Plum (including Prune)

Currant Pomegranate

Date Quince

Feijoa Raspberry

Fig Strawberry

Filbert (Hazelnut) Surinam Cherry

Gooseberry Walnut
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APPENDIX B – PLANTS COMMONLY CONSIDERED VEGETABLES

Artichoke Mustard and Other Greens

Asparagus Okra

Bean

Snap or Green 

Lima

Dry, Edible

Pea

Garden

English or Edible Pod 

Dry, Edible

Beet, Table Onion

Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab) Opuntia

Brussels Sprouts Parsley

Cabbage (including Chinese) Parsnip

Carrot Pepper

Cauliflower Potato

Celeriac Pumpkin

Celery Radish (All Types)

Chickpeas (Large and Small) Rhubarb

Chive Rutabaga

Collards (including Kale) Salsify

Cucumber Spinach

Eggplant Squash (Summer and Winter)

Endive Sweet Corn

Garlic Sweet Potato

Horseradish Swiss Chard

Kohlrabi Taro

Leek Rhubarb

Lentils Tomato (including Tomatillo)

Lettuce Turnip

Melon (All Types) Watermelon

Mushroom (Cultivated)
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APPENDIX C: PLANTS COMMONLY CONSIDERED CULINARY HERBS AND SPICES

Ajwain Clary Malabathrum

Allspice Cloves Marjoram

Angelica Comfrey Mint (All Types)

Anise Common Rue Nutmeg

Annatto Coriander Oregano

Artemisia (All Types) Cress Orris Root

Asafetida Cumin Paprika

Basil (All Types) Curry Parsley

Bay (Cultivated) Dill Pepper

Bladder Wrack Fennel Rocket (Arugula)

Bolivian Coriander Fenugreek Rosemary

Borage Filé (Gumbo, Cultivated) Rue

Calendula Fingerroot Saffron

Chamomile French Sorrel Sage (All Types)

Candle Nut Galangal Savory (All Types)

Caper Ginger Tarragon

Caraway Hops Thyme

Cardamom Horehound Turmeric

Cassia Hyssop Vanilla

Catnip Lavender Wasabi

Chervil Lemon Balm Water Cress

Chicory Lemon Thyme

Cicely Lovage

Cilantro Mace

Cinnamon Mahlab
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APPENDIX D: PLANTS COMMONLY CONSIDERED MEDICINAL HERBS

Artemissia Mullein

Arum Passion Flower

Astragalus Patchouli

Boldo Pennyroyal

Cananga Pokeweed

Comfrey St. John’s Wort

Coneflower Senna

Fenugreek Skullcap

Feverfew Sonchus

Foxglove Sorrel

Ginko Biloba Stevia

Ginseng Tansy

Goat’s Rue Urtica

Goldenseal Witch Hazel

Gypsywort Wood Betony

Horehound Wormwood

Horsetail Yarrow

Lavender Yerba Buena

Liquorice

Marshmallow
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APPENDIX E: PLANTS COMMONLY CONSIDERED FLORICULTURE AND NURSERY CROPS

This list includes the major segments of floriculture and nursery crops. For each segment, a non-exclusive list 

of the most common plants is provided. Providing a complete list for each segment would not be practical 

given the thousands of different ornamental plant taxa that are commercially produced.

Annual Bedding Plants

Begonia Coleus Dahlia

Geranium Impatiens Marigold

Pansy Petunia Snapdragon

Vegetable Transplants

Broadleaf Evergreens

Azalea Boxwood Cotoneaster

Euonymus Holly Pieris

Rhododendron Viburnum

Christmas Trees

Balsam Fir Blue Spruce Douglas Fir

Fraser Fir Living Christmas Tree Noble Fir

Scots Pine White Pine

Cut Cultivated Greens

Asparagus Fern Coniferous Evergreens Eucalyptus

Holly Leatherleaf Fern Pittosporum

Cut Flowers

Carnation Chrysanthemum Delphinium

Gladiolus Iris Lily

Orchid Rose Snapdragon

Tulip

Deciduous Flowering Trees

Crabapple Dogwood Crepe Myrtle

Flowering Pear Flowering Cherry Flowering Plum
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Hawthorn Magnolia Redbud

Service Berry

Deciduous Shade Trees

Ash Elm Honey Locust

Linden Maple Oak

Poplar Sweetgum Sycamore

Deciduous Shrubs

Barberry Buddleia Hibiscus

Hydrangea Rose Spirea

Viburnum Weigela

Foliage Plants

Anthurium Bromeliad Cacti

Dieffenbachia Dracaena Fern

Ficus Ivy Palm

Philodendron Spathipyllum

Fruit And Nut Plants

Berry Plants Citrus Trees Deciduous Fruit and Nut 

Trees

Grapevines

Landscape Conifers

Arborvitae Chamaecyparis Fir

Hemlock Juniper Pine

Spruce Yew

Potted Flowering Plants

African Violet Azalea Florist Chrysanthemum

Flowering Bulbs Hydrangea Lily

Orchid Poinsettia Rose

Potted Herbaceous Perennials
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Astilbe Columbine Coreopsis

Daylily Delphinium Dianthus

Garden Chrysanthemum Heuchera Hosta

Ivy Ornamental Grasses Peony

Phlox Rudbeckia Salvia

Vinca

Propagative Materials

Bare-Root Divisions Cuttings Liners

Plug Seedlings Tissue-Cultured Plantlets Prefinished Plants
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APPENDIX F: EXAMPLES OF INELIGIBLE CROPS

The following lists are not intended to be all-inclusive but to provide guidance based on previous inquiries.

Oil Seed Crops (including oil and non-oil cultivars)

Camelina Canola Cottonseed

Crambe Flaxseed Linseed

Mustard seed Peanut Rapeseed

Safflower Sesame Soybean

Sunflower seed

Field and Grain Crops

Amaranth for grain Buckwheat Barley

Corn Cotton Grain sorghum

Oats Peanut Proso millet

Rye Quinoa Rice (including wild)

Sugar beet Sugarcane Tobacco

Wheat

Forage Crops

Alfalfa Clover Hay

Range grasses

Fiber Crops

Cotton Flax Hemp
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Appendix B

Specialty Food Crops from the USDA AMS List with No 

Crop-specific FCIC Insurance.

Exhibit 1. Specialty Food Crops from the USDA AMS List with 

No Crop-specific FCIC Insurance Sorted by Crop 

Category

Exhibit 2. NASS Documented Specialty Food Crops Values from 

Crops with No Crop-specific FCIC Insurance
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Exhibit 1

Specialty Food Crops from the USDA AMS List 

with No Crop-specific FCIC Insurance Sorted by 

Crop Category
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Crop Classification Further Classification

Ajwain Culinary Herbs and Spices

Allspice Culinary Herbs and Spices

Angelica Culinary Herbs and Spices

Anise Culinary Herbs and Spices

Annatto Culinary Herbs and Spices

Artemisia (All Types) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Asafetida Culinary Herbs and Spices

Balm Culinary Herbs and Spices

Basil (All Types) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Bay (Cultivated) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Bladder Wrack Culinary Herbs and Spices

Bolivian Coriander Culinary Herbs and Spices

Borage Culinary Herbs and Spices

Calendula Culinary Herbs and Spices

Candle Nut Culinary Herbs and Spices

Caper Culinary Herbs and Spices

Caraway Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cardamom Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cassia Culinary Herbs and Spices

Catnip Culinary Herbs and Spices

Chamomile Culinary Herbs and Spices

Chervil Culinary Herbs and Spices

Chicory Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cicely Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cilantro Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cinnamon Culinary Herbs and Spices

Clary Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cloves Culinary Herbs and Spices

Comfrey Culinary Herbs and Spices Medicinal Herbs

Common Rue Culinary Herbs and Spices

Coriander Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cress Culinary Herbs and Spices

Cumin Culinary Herbs and Spices

Curry Culinary Herbs and Spices

Dill Culinary Herbs and Spices

Fennel Culinary Herbs and Spices

Fenugreek Culinary Herbs and Spices Medicinal Herbs

Filé (Gumbo, Cultivated) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Fingerroot Culinary Herbs and Spices

French Sorrel Culinary Herbs and Spices

Galangal Culinary Herbs and Spices

Ginger Culinary Herbs and Spices

Hops Culinary Herbs and Spices

Horehound Culinary Herbs and Spices Medicinal Herbs

Hyssop Culinary Herbs and Spices

Lavender Culinary Herbs and Spices Medicinal Herbs

Lovage Culinary Herbs and Spices

Mace Culinary Herbs and Spices

Mahlab Culinary Herbs and Spices

Malabathrum Culinary Herbs and Spices

Marjoram Culinary Herbs and Spices

Nutmeg Culinary Herbs and Spices

Oregano Culinary Herbs and Spices

Orris Root Culinary Herbs and Spices

Paprika Culinary Herbs and Spices
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Crop Classification Further Classification

Pepper Culinary Herbs and Spices

Rocket (Arugula) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Rosemary Culinary Herbs and Spices

Rue Culinary Herbs and Spices Medicinal Herbs

Saffron Culinary Herbs and Spices

Sage (All Types) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Savory (All Types) Culinary Herbs and Spices

Tarragon Culinary Herbs and Spices

Thyme Culinary Herbs and Spices

Turmeric Culinary Herbs and Spices

Vanilla Culinary Herbs and Spices

Wasabi Culinary Herbs and Spices

Water Cress Culinary Herbs and Spices

Blackberry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Breadfruit Fruits and Tree Nuts

Cacao Fruits and Tree Nuts

Cherimoya Fruits and Tree Nuts

Chestnut (for Nuts) Fruits and Tree Nuts

Coconut Fruits and Tree Nuts

Currant Fruits and Tree Nuts

Date Fruits and Tree Nuts

Feijou Fruits and Tree Nuts

Gooseberry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Guava Fruits and Tree Nuts

Kiwi Fruits and Tree Nuts

Litchi Fruits and Tree Nuts

Passion Fruit Fruits and Tree Nuts

Persimmon Fruits and Tree Nuts

Pineapple Fruits and Tree Nuts

Pomegranate Fruits and Tree Nuts

Quince Fruits and Tree Nuts

Raspberry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Suriname Cherry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Artemissia Medicinal Herbs

Arum Medicinal Herbs

Astragalus Medicinal Herbs

Biloba Stevia Medicinal Herbs

Boldo Medicinal Herbs

Cananga Medicinal Herbs

Coneflower Medicinal Herbs

Feverfew Medicinal Herbs

Foxglove Medicinal Herbs

Ginko Medicinal Herbs

Ginseng Medicinal Herbs

Goat’s rue Medicinal Herbs

Goldenseal Medicinal Herbs

Gypsywort Medicinal Herbs

Horsetail Medicinal Herbs

Liquorice Medicinal Herbs

Marshmallow Medicinal Herbs

Mullein Medicinal Herbs

Passion Flower Medicinal Herbs

Patchouli Medicinal Herbs

Pennyroyal Medicinal Herbs

Pokeweed Medicinal Herbs
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Crop Classification Further Classification

Senna Medicinal Herbs

Skullcap Medicinal Herbs

Sonchus Medicinal Herbs

Sorrel Medicinal Herbs

St. John’s Wort Medicinal Herbs

Tansy Medicinal Herbs

Urtica Medicinal Herbs

Witch Hazel Medicinal Herbs

Wood Betony Medicinal Herbs

Wormwood Medicinal Herbs

Yarrow Medicinal Herbs

Yerba Buena Medicinal Herbs

Artichoke Vegetables

Asparagus Vegetables

Beet, Table Vegetables

Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab) Vegetables

Brussels Sprouts Vegetables

Carrot Vegetables

Cauliflower Vegetables

Celeriac Vegetables

Celery Vegetables

Chive Vegetables

Collards (including Kale) Vegetables

Cucumber Vegetables

Eggplant Vegetables

Endive Vegetables

Garlic Vegetables

Horseradish Vegetables

Kohlrabi Vegetables

Leek Vegetables

Lettuce Vegetables

Mushroom (Cultivated) Vegetables

Okra Vegetables

Opuntia Vegetables

Parsley Vegetables Culinary Herbs and Spices

Parsnip Vegetables

Pea, Garden Vegetables

Radish (All Types) Vegetables

Rhubarb Vegetables

Rutabaga Vegetables

Salsify Vegetables

Spinach Vegetables

Squash (Summer and Winter) Vegetables

Swiss Chard Vegetables

Taro Vegetables

Turnip Vegetables

Watermelon Vegetables
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Exhibit 2

NASS Documented Specialty Food Crops Values from Crops 

with No Crop-specific FCIC Insurance
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Crop 

(Organic with Sales in $) Classification Value of Production (000)

Blackberry Fruits and Tree Nuts $4,570

Breadfruit Fruits and Tree Nuts

Cacao Fruits and Tree Nuts

Cherimoya Fruits and Tree Nuts

Chestnut (for Nuts) Fruits and Tree Nuts

Coconut Fruits and Tree Nuts

Currant Fruits and Tree Nuts

Date Fruits and Tree Nuts $8,603

Feijoa Fruits and Tree Nuts

Gooseberry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Guava Fruits and Tree Nuts

Kiwi Fruits and Tree Nuts

Litchi Fruits and Tree Nuts

Passion Fruit Fruits and Tree Nuts

Persimmon Fruits and Tree Nuts

Pineapple Fruits and Tree Nuts

Pomegranate Fruits and Tree Nuts

Quince Fruits and Tree Nuts

Raspberry Fruits and Tree Nuts $12,882

Suriname Cherry Fruits and Tree Nuts

Artichoke Vegetables $1,455

Asparagus Vegetables

Beet, Table Vegetables

Broccoli (including Broccoli Raab) Vegetables $33,178

Brussels Sprouts Vegetables

Carrot Vegetables $11,530

Cauliflower Vegetables $17,659

Celeriac Vegetables

Celery Vegetables $27,068

Chive Vegetables

Collards (including Kale) Vegetables

Cucumber Vegetables

Eggplant Vegetables

Endive Vegetables

Garlic Vegetables $7,319

Horseradish Vegetables

Kohlrabi Vegetables

Leek Vegetables

Lettuce Vegetables $186,621

Mushroom (Cultivated) Vegetables

Okra Vegetables

Opuntia Vegetables

Parsley Vegetables

Parsnip Vegetables

Pea, Garden Vegetables $6,954

Radish (All Types) Vegetables

Rhubarb Vegetables

Rutabaga Vegetables
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Crop 

(Organic with Sales in $) Classification Value of Production (000)

Salsify Vegetables

Spinach Vegetables $37,437

Squash (Summer and Winter) Vegetables $20,401

Swiss Chard Vegetables

Taro Vegetables

Turnip Vegetables

Watermelon Vegetables $5,017
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Appendix C

Listening Sessions

Exhibit 1. Grower Associations Contacted

Exhibit 2. Periodicals in which Listening Sessions Were 

Advertised

Exhibit 3. Sample Listening Session Advertisement

Exhibit 4. Press Release

Exhibit 5. Listening Session Agenda

Exhibit 6. Stakeholder Comments
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Exhibit 1

Grower Associations Contacted
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Florida Michigan

Florida Tomato Committee Michigan Blueberry Growers Association

Florida Specialty Crop Foundation Michigan Nut Growers Association

Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Michigan Farmers Market Association

Florida Strawberry Growers Association Michigan Apple Committee

Florida Blueberry Growers Association

Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association Wisconsin

Florida Grape Growers Association Wisconsin Fresh Market Vegetable Growers

Wisconsin Grape Growers Association

New York Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association

New York State Vegetable Growers Association Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association

New York State Berry Growers Association Wisconsin Apple Growers Association

New York Nut Growers Association The Wisconsin Berry Growers Association

New York Apple Association Midwest Organic Sustainable Education Service

National Onion Association

California

New Jersey Western Growers Association

Garden State Wine Growers Association California Tomato Growers Association

Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey Almond Board of California

American Cranberry Growers Association California Garlic & Onion Advisory Board

California Pear Advisory Board

Napa Valley Olive Growers
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Exhibit 2

Periodicals in which Listening Sessions Were Advertised
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Publications Used for Advertisements Region Covered

American Farm-Mid-Atlantic Grower New York/New Jersey

American Farm-The New Jersey Farmer New York/New Jersey

Farmers Advance Michigan

Wisconsin State Farmer Wisconsin

Farmer & Rancher Florida

Capital Press California
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Exhibit 3

Sample Listening Session Advertisement

(For 508 compliance, the language of the advertisement is included as 

alternate text imbedded behind the image).
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Exhibit 4

Press Release
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Government Contractor Holds Listening Session on Federal Insurance for 

Specialty Crops from Food Safety and Contamination Issues.

One action in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79) was the inclusion of an 

amendment to Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)). One portion 

of this amendment added a subparagraph to the Federal Crop Insurance Act directing the Federal 

Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to enter into a contract for a study of insurance policies that 

might provide coverage for specialty crop production or revenue losses resulting from food 

safety and contamination issues. Specialty crops are defined in law as “fruits and vegetables, 

tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Health 

advisories and/or recalls related to contamination concerns and issued by government, retail, or

national consumer group will be considered.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency 

(RMA) Office of Product Management issued a contract on behalf of the FCIC. In that contract, 

a “Food Safety and Contamination Issue” is defined as “an issue when a specialty crop food has 

been contaminated or tainted making it unfit for consumption which results in a recall and causes 

an inability of producers to market their specialty crop from the field and the specialty crop is 

lost in field due to physical deterioration by natural causes.”

Watts and Associates, Inc. (W&A) was awarded the contract to conduct this food safety 

research study. Part of the research involves gathering stakeholder input. To that end, W&A is 

conducting a listening session open to the public at the Heidrick Ag History Center, 1962 Hays 

Lane, Woodland, CA 95776 on October 30, 2014 at 9:00 am. W&A hopes to obtain input about

food safety and the effects of recalls on the ability of specialty crop producers to market their 

crops, input on the level of concern these issues raise, and other relevant feedback. If you are 

unable to attend, you can provide your input to Randy Landgren at W&A by email at 

rlandgren@wattsandassociates.com.
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Exhibit 5

Listening Session Agenda
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Food Safety Study Listening Session Agenda

 Introductions

 Watts and Associates, Inc.

 Attendees

 Purpose

 Gather stakeholder input

 Learn about effects on producers’ access to markets following a 

food recall

 Background

 FCIC Insurance (Specialty Crops)

 Legislative Authority/Restrictions

 Recent History of Food Safety Recalls

 Frequency/Severity

 Stakeholder Input

 Experiences with Food Safety Recall

 Issues with the Food Safety Recall Process (the Process)

 Does the Process Work?

 Impacts of Recalls on Market Access

 How I Protect Myself from the Risks Related to Food Safety 

Issues

 Questions
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Exhibit 6

Stakeholder Comments
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Commenter Type Stakeholder Comment

Grower Organization I reached out to one of our specialists with Stone fruit and she indicated that she didn't know 

of any food safety recalls among the wineries and growers in the State of Florida.

Grower Organization Our growers are not concerned with recalls as their production primarily goes into producing 

wines.

Grower Organization The impression is that many times the impact is regional and they rebound rather quickly but 

actually it takes quite a while for the markets to get back to normal. For example, the 

spinach recall in 2008 impacted the markets until this year.

Grower Organization The spinach recall impacted all leafy greens, not just spinach.

Grower Organization Specialty Crops are a different commodity than grain crops with different marketing 

practices and different farming practices; need to make sure any development effort takes 

these differences into consideration.

Grower Organization Growers will need to be educated about insurance before even discussing needs for 

insurance as most growers do not have access to insurance for their crops.

Government Official Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association typically do a lot of training in this area and might 

be interested.

Government Official How are you going to get growers to buy an insurance product when they look in the past 10 

– 15 years and a safety recall hasn’t happened?

Extension Specialist That is much bigger issue for growers, particularly in the Southern part of the State. I have 

heard of that. Delaware or Maryland had to deal with the recall of 300 acres worth of 

Spinach.

Extension Specialist This is all very interesting. With our Food Safety program, we always recognize that we are 

missing the insurance end and the liability end and it concerns us...because there is a lot of 

opportunity for things to go wrong for growers.
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Appendix D

Food Safety Recalls

Exhibit 1. Sample Recall Notices

Exhibit 2. State Food Safety Monitoring Agencies

Exhibit 3. Food Recall Notices: 2014

Exhibit 4. Recall Notices for unprocessed and Minimally 

Processed Specialty Crop Foods: 2012 through 2014
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Exhibit 1

Sample Recall Notices
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North Carolina Farm Recalls Athena Cantaloupes

Contact

Consumer:

Michael Norton:

207-885-3132

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 28, 2012 - On Saturday, Burch Farms of North Carolina 

announced a recall of Athena cantaloupes because the product may contain listeria 

monocytogenes. No illnesses have been associated with this recall, according to Burch Farms.

Hannaford is advising customers because its stores had carried Burch Farms Athena cantaloupes. 

The product has been removed. Athena cantaloupes, a variety grown in the Southeastern United 

States, are a whole cantaloupe produce item. If stickered, the label on the item will reference 

Burch Farm and read: “Cantaloupe PLU 4319.”

Customers should not consume these cantaloupes. Return the item to stores or dispose of the 

item and return the sticker for a full refund. Listeria has the potential to cause serious illness.

No other products are affected by this recall.

Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 181 stores and employs more 

than 26,000 associates in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. For 

additional information, visit disclaimer icon www.hannaford.com.
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Burch Equipment LLC Expands Recall to Include Additional Cantaloupe Shipping Dates 

and to include Honeydew Melons

Contact

Consumer:

910-267-5781

burch@intrstar.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 10, 2012 - Burch Equipment LLC, North Carolina, is 

expanding its recall to include all of this growing season's cantaloupes and honeydew melons 

that may remain on the market because they may possibly be contaminated with Listeria 

monocytogenes. There have been no illnesses reported to date. 

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections 

in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although 

healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, 

stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths 

among pregnant women. The incubation period (the length of time between consuming a product 

and becoming ill) for Listeria monocytogenes can be 1 to 3 weeks, but may be in the range of 3 

to 70 days. 

The whole cantaloupes are identified by a red label reading Burch Farms referencing PLU # 

4319. All cantaloupes involved in the recall were grown by Burch Farms, however some of the 

cantaloupes may have been identified with a "Cottle Strawberry, Inc." sticker referencing PLU 

#4319 (note: Cottle Strawberry, Inc. did not grow or process the cantaloupe involved in this 

recall). Cantaloupes from Burch Farms were shipped in both corrugated boxes (9 cantaloupe per 

case) and in bulk bins. 

Honeydew melons involved in this recall expansion do not bear any identifying stickers and were 

packed in cartons labeled melons.

Consumers who may have purchased these honeydew melons should contact the store where 

they purchased their melons, for information about whether those melons are part of this recall. 

The cantaloupes and honeydew melons involved in this expanded recall were sold to distributors 

between June 23rd and July 27th, in the following states: FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, 

NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, and VA, VT and WV. The melons may have further been 

distributed to retail stores, restaurants and food service facilities in other states." 

Burch Equipment LLC is requesting any consumer that may have one of these cantaloupes or 

honeydews to discard the product. 
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There have been no illnesses reported to date. FDA and the North Carolina Department of 

Agriculture and Consumer Services are working with Burch Equipment LLC following a random 

sample of a cantaloupe testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes. 

This recall expansion is based on FDA's finding of Listeria monocytogenes on a honeydew 

melon grown and packed by Burch.

Questions can be directed to Burch Equipment LLC at 910-267-5781 Monday through Friday, 

(9:00am to 4:00pm) or email burch@intrstar.net.
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Pacific Organic Produce Announce Voluntary Recall of Mangos Due to Possible Health 

Risk

Contact:

Consumer:

415-673-5555

amy@pacorg.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 5th, 2014 - Pacific Organic Produce, San Francisco, CA 

is voluntarily recalling a limited number of cases of organic Tommy Atkins mangos (PLU 

numbers 94051 & 94959) that were sold under the Purity Organic brand between the dates of 

April 14, 2014 and May 2, 2014 due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. No 

illnesses have been reported in association with the recall and no other mangos or products under 

the Purity Organic brand are being recalled. 

No illnesses have been reported to date. However, the recall was issued as a precaution because a 

single sample in a FDA sample yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Pacific 

Organic Produce is coordinating closely with regulatory officials and has contacted its customers 

to ensure that any remaining recalled products are removed. Listeria monocytogenes is an 

organism that can cause foodborne illness in a person who consumes a food item contaminated 

with it. Symptoms of infection may include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms 

such as nausea or diarrhea. The illness primarily impacts pregnant women and adults with 

weakened immune systems. Most healthy adults and children rarely become seriously ill. 

The PLU number is printed in the middle of the PLU sticker on the fruit. The mangos were 

shipped to retailers and distributors in limited quantities within five (5) U.S. states (Arizona, 

California, Colorado, New Jersey and Texas). 

Only the specific PLU numbers and sell dates identified above are included in this recall. 

Consumers who have any remaining product with these Product Codes purchased between the 

dates of April 14, 2014 and May 2, 2014 should not consume it, but rather should discard it. 

Consumers should retain their store receipts, PLU stickers or any other proof of purchase they 

may have. Retailers and consumers with questions may call Amy Rosenoff at Pacific Organic 

Produce customer service at 415-673-5555, which is open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (PT) Monday -

Friday.
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Tanimura & Antle Voluntarily Recalls Single Lot of Romaine Lettuce Because of Possible 

Health Risk

Contact

Consumer:

877-827-7388 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. PDT, Monday-Friday)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 19, 2012 – Tanimura & Antle Inc. is voluntarily 

recalling a single lot of romaine lettuce because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli 

O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). The affected product is limited to Tanimura & Antle Field 

Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine. This product is packed in a plastic bag with the UPC 

number 0-27918-20314-9 and may have a Best Buy date of “08 19 12”. The product was 

available at retail locations Aug. 2 – Aug. 19, 2012. NO OTHER TANIMURA & ANTLE 

PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECALLED.

A total of 2,095 cases of potentially affected product were distributed throughout the US and 

Canada starting on August 2. A total of 1,969 cases were shipped to the following states: AL, 

AR, AZ, CA, GA, KS, KY, MD, NC, NM, NV, NY, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA and Puerto 

Rico.

Importantly, there are no reported illnesses associated with consumption of this product. E.coli 

O157:H7 can cause a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults 

can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called 

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the 

elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

The recall is being conducted in consultation with FDA, and is based on the testing of a single 

random sample by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The affected product was shipped in cases packed in either 12 or 18 heads per case. Retailers 

and Distributors can identify the affected products through a traceability code label affixed to 

exterior of the case. The traceability code label affixed to the exterior of the case is 5417802151. 

Tanimura and Antle’s #1 priority is food safety, and in an overabundance of caution we are 

asking that if any of the above Romaine is in the possession of consumers, retailers or 

distributors, the product be disposed of and not consumed.

Consumers with questions or who would like replacement coupons may call at 877-827-7388, 8 

a.m. - 5 p.m. PDT, Monday-Friday.
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Exhibit 2

State Food Safety Monitoring Agencies
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State Level Agencies Responsible for Food Safety and Recall

(Many of these websites refer the researcher to FoodSafety.gov.)

Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries: http://www.agi.alabama.gov/divisions/foodsafety

Alabama Public Health: http://www.adph.org/

Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture: http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/

Alaska Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program: 

http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/recallsalerts.html

Arizona Department of Agriculture: https://agriculture.az.gov/

Arizona Department of Health Services: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/fses/index.htm

Arkansas Agriculture Department: http://aad.arkansas.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Arkansas Department of Health: http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/Pages/default.aspx

California Department of Food and Agriculture: 

http://cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Food_Safety.html

California Department of Public Health: 

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HEALTHINFO/Pages/fdbFr.aspx

Colorado Department of Agriculture: 

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/ag_Main/CBON/1251599402890

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: 

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/food-drug-and-cosmetic-recalls

Connecticut Department of Agriculture: http://www.ct.gov/doag/site/default.asp

Connecticut Department of Public Health: 

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=388294

Delaware Department of Agriculture: http://dda.delaware.gov

Delaware Division of Public Health: 

http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/foodsafety.html#Recalls

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: 

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Food-Nutrition/Food-Safety

Florida Department of Health: http://www.floridahealth.gov/

Georgia Department of Agriculture: http://agr.georgia.gov/recalls.aspx

Georgia Department of Public Health: http://dph.georgia.gov/

Hawaii Department of Agriculture: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/

Hawaii State Department of Health: http://health.hawaii.gov/
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D9 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/

Idaho State Department of Agriculture: http://www.agri.idaho.gov/

Illinois Department of Agriculture: http://www.agr.state.il.us/

Illinois Department of Public Health: http://www.recalls.gov/food.html

Indiana State Department of Agriculture: http://www.in.gov/isda/

Indiana State Department of Health: http://www.in.gov/isdh/20640.htm

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: 

http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/FoodSafetyDivision.asp

Iowa Department of Public Health: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/

Kansas Department of Agriculture: http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/

Kansas Department of Health and Environment: http://www.kdheks.gov/

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services: http://chfs.ky.gov/

Kentucky Department of Agriculture: http://www.kyagr.com/

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservations and Forestry: 

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/index.shtml

Maryland Department of Agriculture: http://mda.maryland.gov/Pages/homepage.aspx

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: 

http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/OFPCHS/SitePages/Home.aspx

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/

Massachusetts Health and Human Services: 

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/foodsafety/recalls-and-alerts/

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: 

http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-50772_50776---,00.html

Michigan Department of Community Health: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch

Minnesota Department of Agriculture: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/food/safety/recalls.aspx

Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/safety/recalls.aspx

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce: http://www.mdac.state.ms.us/

Mississippi State Department of Health: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/

Missouri Department of Agriculture: http://agriculture.mo.gov/connect/foodsafety.php

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: 

http://health.mo.gov/safety/foodrecalls/index.php
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D10 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Montana Department of Agriculture: http://agr.mt.gov/

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services: 

http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/fcs/index.shtml

Nebraska Department of Agriculture: http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Nevada Department of Agriculture: http://agri.nv.gov/

Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health: http://health.nv.gov/

New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food: http://agriculture.nh.gov/

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/

New Jersey Department of Agriculture: 

http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/hottopics/topics070319.html

New Jersey Department of Health: http://www.state.nj.us/health/

New Mexico Department of Agriculture: http://www.nmda.nmsu.edu/food-safety/

New Mexico Department of Health: http://nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/fdp/

New York Department of Agriculture and Markets: 

http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AD/alertList.asp

New York Department of Health: http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/food_safety/

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: 

http://www.ncagr.gov/fooddrug/

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/

North Dakota Department of Agriculture: http://www.nd.gov/ndda/

North Dakota Department of Health: http://www.ndhealth.gov/

Ohio Department of Agriculture: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FoodSafety/foodsafety.aspx

Ohio Department of Health: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/alerts/food/foodrecall.aspx

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry: 

http://www.oda.state.ok.us/food/index.htm

Oklahoma State Department of Health: http://www.ok.gov/health/

Oregon Department of Agriculture: 

http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Pages/AboutFoodSafety.aspx

Oregon Health Authority: 

http://public.health.oregon.gov/NEWSADVISORIES/Pages/FoodSafetyAlerts.aspx
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D11 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: 

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_department_of_

agriculture/10297

Pennsylvania Department of Health: 

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/department_of_health_home/17457

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture: 

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/agricult/index.php

Rhode Island Department of Health: http://www.health.state.ri.us/

South Carolina Department of Agriculture: http://agriculture.sc.gov/foodsafetyandcompliance

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control: http://www.dhec.sc.gov/

South Dakota Department of Agriculture: http://sdda.sd.gov/

South Dakota Department of Health: http://doh.sd.gov/

State of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/foodsafety/

State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals: http://www.dhh.state.la.us/

Tennessee Department of Agriculture: 

http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/regulatory/foodrecalls.shtml

Tennessee Department of Health: http://health.state.tn.us/healthalert.shtml

Texas Department of Agriculture: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/

Texas Department of State Health Services: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/foods/alerts.aspx

Utah Department of Agriculture and Food: http://ag.utah.gov/food-safety-consumers.html

Utah Department of Health: http://www.health.state.ut.us/

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets: 

http://agriculture.vermont.gov/food_safety_consumer_protection

Vermont Department of Health: http://www.healthvermont.gov/advisory/index.aspx

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/

Virginia Department of Health: 

http://www.vdh.state.va.us/EnvironmentalHealth/Food/FoodSafety/RecallInfo/index.htm

Washington State Department of Agriculture: http://agr.wa.gov/AboutWSDA/Divisions/FSCS_Div.aspx

Washington State Department of Health: 

http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/FoodSafety/Recalls

West Virginia Department of Agriculture: http://www.wvagriculture.org/index.html

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources: 

http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D12 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: 

http://datcp.wi.gov/Food/Food_Recalls/index.aspx

Wisconsin Department of Health Services: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/

Wyoming Department of Agriculture: http://wyagric.state.wy.us/divisions/chs/food-safety

Wyoming Department of Health: http://www.health.wyo.gov/default.aspx
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D13 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Exhibit 3

Food Recall Notices: 2014
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D14 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

January 1, 

2014

Campbell Soup 

Company Prego Traditional Italian sauce 300 cases risk of spoilage

January 1, 

2014 Cultured Kitchen Non-dairy cashew cheese unspecified contaminant Salmonella

January 8, 

2014 L.M. Noodle Company Marlyce's Butterballs unspecified Mislabeled wheat flour, soy flour, whey, milk

January 10, 

2014 Tyson Foods Inc separated chicken 33840 lbs contaminant Salmonella

January 15, 

2014

Paskesz Candy 

Company Belgian Chocolate coins unspecified Mislabeled milk

January 15, 

2014 Cloverdale Foods Co. beef franks 2664 lbs Mislabeled milk

January 17, 

2014

European Meat Products 

Inc. fresh ready-to-eat beef and pork 130000 lbs Mislabeled allergen

January 17, 

2014 Gusto Packing sliced, spiral ham 67113 lbs contaminant Listeria

January 19, 

2014 Truitt Brothers Inc. shelf-stable pasta and ground beef 1.77 million lbs Mislabeled allergen

January 21, 

2014 Rise'n Roll Bakery

donuts, cinnamon caramel donut 

holes, Rise'n Roll Specialties 

Nutty Crunch

all Mislabeled egg in donuts/donut holes, 

peanuts in Nutty Crunch

January 21, 

2014 Merrell Food Group Crunch'N Nutter Mixed Nut candy

all with sell by date of 

June 1 2014 or before Mislabeled peanuts

January 22, 

2014

Lochiel Enterprises 

Limited

Oven Smoked Atlantic Salmon 

Stix, Chili Mango flavor 56 lbs contaminant Listeria

January 24, 

2014 Kinnikinnick Foods Various waffle/bread products

expansion from 1/10, 

1/15 recalls (original 

recalls not in emails)

Mislabeled Milk

January 24, 

2014 Araya Inc.

Various products, 

Marshmallows, Choc. Bars, Dry 

fruits w/ chocolate, gift boxes

unspecified Mislabeled Allergens- wheat, tree nuts, 

soy, milk protein

January 27, 

2014 Winn-Dixie Instant Chocolate Drink Mix in all stores in Florida Unspecified

January 27, 

2014 George's Inc. Frozen par-fried chicken tenders 1.25 million lbs Mislabeled allergens

January 28, 

2014 Pringles Original Crisps small quantity contaminant exposed to seasoning containing milk, not on label
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D15 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

January 30, 

2014

Walker's Food Products 

Co. Chicken salad products 2200 lbs Mislabeled allergen

February 1, 

2014 House of Smoke, Inc. Meat and poultry products 144,000 lbs Mislabeled allergen, soy lecithin not on label

February 4, 

2014 PFP Enterprises beef products 15865 lbs contaminant E.coli, various strains

February 5, 

2014 Humei Trading Inc "Dried Lily" packages unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

February 5, 

2014 K-Fat Inc. KFI Sweetened Ginger Candy unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

February 4, 

2014 ConAgra Foods Chicken Noodle Soup 54673 lbs Mislabeled allergens

February 7, 

2014

Wyoming Authentic 

Products, LLC beef jerky 365 lbs Processing Deviation

February 

10, 2014

Big Red Tomato 

Packers, LLC Fresh Tomatoes limited recall of 790 boxes contaminant Salmonella

February

10, 2014

Vitamin Cottage Natural 

Food Markets, Inc. Dark Chocolate Almonds one lot Mislabeled peanuts

February 

10, 2014 Mars Foodservices US Uncle Ben's Infused Rice unspecified Unspecified

February 

11, 2014

Prime Snax 

Incorporated beef jerky 90000 lbs Mislabeled allergen

February 

13, 2014 Roth Farms Inc. Bunched Curly Parsley unspecified contaminant Salmonella

February 

17, 2014 Kettle Brand Sea Salt Potato Chips limited run Mislabeled

Exposed to milk-based sour 

cream seasoning, milk 

allergen not declared

February 

17, 2014 Ice Cream Specialties Chocolate Ice Cream unspecified Mislabeled peanut butter/allergen

February 

20, 2014

Fannie May Confections 

Brands, Inc. chocolate gift boxes 12000 units Mislabeled

one piece of candy contains 

peanuts, not indicated on 

label

February 

20, 2014

Whole Foods Market 

Mid-Atlantic Region Tom Yom Soup

all with specific UPC 

number, use by date of 

4/8/14

Mislabeled milk/allergen

February 

21, 2014 Falafel King Green Chile Hummus and Green Chile Wraps unspecified contaminant Listeria
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D16 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

February 

21, 2014 Evolution Fresh Organic Sweet Greens and Ginger juice 1700 bottles unspecified

February 

24, 2014

Wolfgang B. Gourmet 

Foods, Inc. Condiment grilling sauce 236 unites Mislabeled

contains anchovies in the 

Worcestershire sauce, 

anchovies not on label

February 

24, 2014 Roos Foods cheeses unspecified contaminant Listeria

March 1, 

2014

Jinsunmi International 

Inc.

Frozen fruit bar, watermelon 

flavor unspecified Mislabeled peanuts

March 3, 

2014

Mars Food North

America Uncle Ben's Ready Rice 3500 cases unspecified

March 3, 

2014 Roos Foods cheeses expanded contaminant Listeria

March 3, 

2014

Unilever United States, 

Inc.

Popsicle brand orange, cherry, 

and grape flavored ice pops limited number Mislabeled milk not on label

March 5, 

2014 Twin Marquis, Inc. Cooked noodle and Lo Mein Noodle specific lots Mislabeled milk

March 5, 

2014 Plum Organics Pouch Childs food products limited quantity of two varieties Damage

Intermittent damage to 

plastic spouts during 

manufacturing

March 5, 

2014 HC Schau and Son Fresh to Go Tuscan Style Compo on Tomato Basil Bread 3422 unites Mislabeled Pine Nuts (tree nuts)

March 5, 

2014 Lehigh Valley Dairy Orange Juice

sell by date of March 

23rd, specific UPC sold 

in Pennsylvania

Mislabeled allergen (milk)

March 5, 

2014

House of Flavors Ice 

Cream Company

Belmont Chocolate Chip Cookie 

Dough Ice Cream unspecified Mislabeled nut allergen

March 6, 

2014

Gretchen's Shoebox 

Express

Greek Yogurt Raspberry and 

Lemon Parfait cups

limited number 

distributed to Starbucks Mislabeled eggs

March 7, 

2014

Crown Food 

Distributors, Inc. Golden Natural Fruit Island unspecified Mislabeled sulfites, Yellow #6

March 7, 

2014

Net Foods Import & 

Export Turkey Diced Apricots unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

March 7, 

2014 Hong Lee Trading Inc. Coconut candy strips unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

March 7, 

2014 George's Inc. raw chicken breast strips 29200 lbs Mislabeled

wrong label, actually made 

with soy protein and MSGnot on present label
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D17 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

March 14, 

2014 Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit 59780 cases contaminant Salmonella

March 14, 

2014

Dole Fresh Vegetables, 

Inc. Bagged Salads limited number contaminant Listeria

March 17, 

2014 Infinite Herbs LLC Organic Basil Clamshells one lot contaminant Salmonella

March 18, 

2014

Simply Natural Foods, 

LLC Simply Lite Dark Chocolate Bar unspecified Mislabeled

label says may contain traces 

of milk but contains high 

levels of milk protein

March 18, 

2014

Fanny Mae Confections 

Brand assorted boxed chocolates 19 units Mislabeled peanuts

March 19, 

2014 Harry's Farmers Market Amberjack (seafood)

all sold through March 

15, 2014 at particular 

store

5 reported customer 

illnesses

March 20, 

2014 Helados La Tapatia, Inc. ice cream products, popsicles, fruit bars/cups, bolis all Mislabeled Listeria

March 25, 

2014

Parkers Farm 

Acquisition, LLC

peanut butter, cheese, salsa, and 

spreads unspecified contaminant Listeria

March 27, 

2014

Oscar's Smokehouse 

Inc.

eleven types of cheese spread 

varieties

all lots with 3 digit 

numbers ranging from 

719 to 959

contaminant Listeria

March 27, 

2014

Vermont Common 

Foods Lemon Cookie Buttons one lot Mislabeled May contain peanut butter cookies not on label.

March 26, 

2014 Nutriom LLC processed egg products expanded, additional 118,541 lbs unspecified

March 27, 

2014

BBM Chocolate 

Distributors, Ltd.

Various Dark Chocolate 

products all lots Mislabeled milk allergen

March 28, 

2014 Clif Bar and Company Chocolate Chunk LUNA bars small amount Mislabeled made with Macadamia nut butter, not listed on label

March 31, 

2014

Fresh Express 

Incorporated Italian Salad limited number Already expired and contamination

Use-by-date of March 26, 

Listeria

March 31, 

2014 Vita Food Products, Inc. Elf Herring Fillets in Wine Sauce 2280 jars swapped labels

actually contains Herring 

fillets in sour cream, 

therefore undeclared milk

April 1, 

2014 Lao Tai Nam Corp. Salted Fish unspecified contaminant Clostridium

April 1, 

2014 AdvancePierre Foods frozen chicken breast 8730 lbs Mislabeled allergen
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D18 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

April 2, 

2014

American Outdoor 

Products

dehydrated Fettuccini Alfredo 

with Chicken 633 lbs Mislabeled allergen

April 3, 

2014 Emparedados Boricua Chicken and Cheese unspecified Mislabeled eggs

April 4, 

2014 Koru Pacific Packaging Ah!laska organic cocoa nondairy chocolate mix one lot Mislabeled milk

April 4, 

2014 Tyson Foods Inc frozen, fully cooked chicken nuggets 75320 lbs contaminant extraneous materials

April 7, 

2014 Whole Foods Market Chipotle Chicken Wrap unspecified Mislabeled fish

April 7, 

2014

Sprouts Farmers 

Market, Inc. Organic Black Peppercorns from all stores contaminant Salmonella

April 7, 

2014

Frontier Natural 

Products Co-Op

Products with Organic Black 

Peppercorns all contaminant Salmonella

April 9, 

2014 Buffalo SAV Inc Potato and Bacon perogies unspecified Mislabeled soy protein allergen

April 10, 

2014 Lisy Corporation Sweet basil (albahaca) unspecified contaminant Salmonella

April 10, 

2014 Karl Bissinger's LLC Dark Chocolate Bunny Ears one lot Mislabeled milk

April 11, 

2014

Fernandez Chile 

Company Inc Chile Molido Puro, Chile Rojo all with specific UPC code contaminant Salmonella

April 11, 

2014 Sinco Inc Chocolate hazelnut swirl gelato all with specific UPC code Mislabeled peanut protein

April 15, 

2014 The Kroger Co. Sweet Strawberry Sorbet unspecified Mislabeled milk

April 14, 

2014 Nutriom LLC processed egg products expanded, additional 82884 lbs contaminant Salmonella

April 17, 

2014

Health Matters America 

Inc.

Dark chocolate golden berries 

and dark chocolate sacha inchi 

seeds

specific lots Mislabeled milk

April 18, 

2014

Price Chopper 

Supermarkets Tuscan White Bean Hummus unspecified swapped labels

has label for Sweet Potato 

Hummus, contains parmesan 

cheese

April 17, 

2014

Bolzano Artisan Meats 

LLC salami 5723 lbs

produced without 

inspection and 

Mislabeled
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D19 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

April 21, 

2014

Whole Foods Market 

Southwest Region mini butter croissants unspecified Mislabeled eggs

April 20, 

2014 Kraft Foods Group, Inc. Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners 96000 lbs swapped labels may contain Classic Cheese Dogs in packages

April 21, 

2014 Hickory Farms, Inc. Chipotle Ranch Sauce unspecified Mislabeled buttermilk powder

April 22, 

2014

Wegmans Food 

Markets, Inc. Easter Bread all Mislabeled egg

April 22, 

2014

Dominex Natural Foods, 

LLC

Corkscrew Pasta and Creamy 

Tomato Vodka Sauce

all with day codes 00914 

and 01314 Mislabeled pine nuts, some cases inadvertently mispackaged

April 24, 

2014 Miravalle Foods, Inc. Ground Annato Spice unspecified contaminant Salmonella

April 24, 

2014 Skilcor Food Products

Fully cooked pork baby back 

ribs in honey garlic barbeque 

sauce

36 lbs not inspected

imported from Canada, not 

presented at border for 

inspection

April 25, 

2014

Knockum Hill Bar-BQueHickory smoked, pit cooked 

barbeque pork 350 lbs Mislabeled allergen

April 28, 

2014 Stonyfield Peach/Pear Yogurt cups 188 6-packs Unspecified

April 30, 

2014 The Kroger Co.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mascarpone 

Ice Cream, Caramel Hazelnut 

Fudge Truffle Ice Cream

all sold at Kroger stores Mislabeled egg

May 2, 

2014 NOH Foods of Hawaii Hawaiian Coconut Pudding unspecified Mislabeled milk

May 3, 

2014 Schnucks Kitchen Curry White Meat chicken salad 130 lbs contaminant Listeria

May 5, 

2014 Wells Enterprises, Inc. Blue Bunny Premium Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream unspecified Mislabeled egg

May 5, 

2014 Anhing Corporation Chili Powder all contaminant Salmonella

May 5, 

2014

Sixdog Investments, 

LLC certified organic eggs some cases contaminant Salmonella

May 6, 

2014 Pacific Organic Produce Mangos limited number contaminant Listeria

May 8, 

2014 Lily Bloom's Kitchen Poparoons unspecified Mislabeled Milk allergen

May 9, 

2014

Ste Fromagere du 

Livradois Raclette and Montboissie cheese lot# 350 contaminant Salmonella
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D20 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

May 13, 

2014

Domega NY 

International Co. Sesame flavor cracker unspecified Mislabeled peanuts

May 13, 

2014 Stonyfield Peach/Pear Yogurt cups expanded, additional 1344 6-packs Unspecified

May 13, 

2014 Strong America Limited Meatball Medley unspecified Mislabeled eggs

May 13, 

2014

Domega NY 

International Co Ltd Cake with filling milk (biscuits) unspecified Mislabeled eggs

May 13, 

2014

Surma Distributors 

LLC. Golden Raisens unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

May 14, 

2014 US Trading Company Crushed Chili Powder lot code 359XP contaminant Salmonella

May 16, 

2014

Transatlantic Foods, 

Inc. Pork products 449000 lbs Mislabeled

May 19, 

2014

Wolverine Packing 

Company Ground Beef 1.8 million lbs contaminant E.coli O157:H7

May 20, 

2014 Kraft Foods Group Cottage Cheese unspecified

Not stored in 

accordance with temp. 

standards

May 20, 

2014 WhiteWave Soymilk unspecified Mislabeled Almond milk

May 20, 

2014

American Waffle 

Company Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes 480 cases Mislabeled milk

May 20, 

2014 Lansal, Inc. Hummus and Dip 14860 lbs contaminant Listeria

May 20, 

2014 Middle East Bakery Gluten-Free Pancakes all lots Mislabeled milk

May 22, 

2014 Sherman Produce Walnuts 241 cases contaminant Listeria

May 21, 

2014 Prime Pak Foods Fully-cooked breaded chicken breast/tender 23250 lbs Mislabeled allergen

May 23, 

2014 KIND Healthy Snacks STRONG/KIND bars, KIND Pumpkin seeds w/ sea salt bars all Processing Deviation

Pumpkin seeds roasted on 

equipment used to roast 

peanuts, no testing done

May 23, 

2014 Whole Foods Market Thai Soba Noodle Salad all sold in five States Mislabeled soy allergen

May 23, 

2014

Chaparros Mexican 

Foods Inc. beef 568503 lbs Mislabeled allergen
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D21 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

May 27, 

2014 Brunkow Cheese

Jalapeno Pepper Raw Milk 

Cheddar Cold Pack Cheese 

Spread

all Mislabeled soy allergen

May 27, 

2014 Sun Tree LLC Walnuts 46 cases contaminant Listeria

May 27, 

2014

Belleville Farmer's 

Market Walnuts all contaminant Listeria

May 28, 

2014

American Importing Co, 

Inc. Cinnamon Crunch Granola limited number from 1 lot Mislabeled almonds

May 28, 

2014 Rome Packing Co. Minced Crab Meat all contaminant Listeria

May 29, 

2014 Navitas Naturals Chia Powder unspecified contaminant Salmonella

May 29, 

2014 Boulder Natural Meats Chicken breasts 363 lbs Mislabeling

June 3, 

2014 Princess House, Inc. Tangerine Appetizer Plates all contaminant

cadmium and lead levels 

possibly higher than 

acceptable

June 4, 

2014 Glutino Rosemary and Olive Oil Snack Crackers unspecified contaminant

Salmonella, seasoning 

recalled by supplier (Kerry 

Ingredients)

June 4, 

2014 Baptista's Bakery Gluten Free Rosemary and Olive Oil Multiseed Crackers 4339 cases contaminant

Salmonella, seasoning 

recalled by supplier (Kerry 

Ingredients)

June 5, 

2014 Ocean Spray Greek Yogurt covered Craisins (dried cranberries) two lots Mislabeled May contain yogurt covered peanuts

June 6, 

2014 Rite Aid Mint'n Chip Ice Cream 560 16oz pints Mislabeled May contain pistachio ice cream instead, allergen

June 6, 

2014 GreenSmoothieGirl Chia Powder unspecified contaminant Salmonella

June 9, 

2014 Olde Thompson Inc Ground Malabar Pepper unspecified contaminant Salmonella

June 9, 

2014 Navitas Naturals Chia Powder expanded to additional expiration dates contaminant Salmonella

June 9, 

2014

Dole Packaged Foods, 

LLC

Roasted Garlic Tomato Basil 

soup

unspecified Mislabeled milk allergen

June 10, 

2014 Lansal, Inc. Egg White Salad with Chives 304 containers (114 lbs) contaminant Listeria
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data D22 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

June 11, 

2014 Eillien's Candies, Inc. Sponge Candy unspecified Mislabeled milk allergen

June 11, 

2014

Wegman's Food 

Markets, Inc. Bagged Ice all sold between January 1 and June 10, 2014 contaminant metal fragments

June 11, 

2014

Fruitland American 

Meat beef 4012 lbs Processing Deviation

dorsal root ganglia may not 

have been completely 

removed

June 13, 

2014 La Finquita, LLC Fresh Farmers Cheese unspecified Processing Deviation

May have peanuts and 

pistachios mixed in by 

mistake

June 13, 

2014 Fish Family Farm, Inc. Milk products and cream unspecified Processing Deviation

May have peanuts and 

pistachios mixed in by 

mistake

June 16, 

2014 Smith's Country Cheese Waxed Gouda 21 wheels contaminant Listeria

June 16, 

2014 Schnucks Bakery Devil's Food Cakes unspecified Mislabeled pecans

June 16, 

2014 Wegmans Food Market Cinnamon Raisin Buns 1315 units Mislabeled egg

June 18, 

2014 Vita Food Products, Inc. Smoked Atlantic Salmon 1878 lbs contaminant Listeria

June 18, 

2014

Domega NY 

International Co Ltd Gong xifacai gift chocolates unspecified Mislabeled peanuts and milk

June 19, 

2014 Bellisio Foods, Inc. Thai Kitchen Chicken Pad Thai 12180 lbs Mislabeled allergen

June 19, 

2014 Dearborn Sausage Co. Slab bacon 3660 lbs Mislabeled allergen

June 21, 

2014 Wei-Chuan USA, Inc. Pork Mini Buns with Crab Meat 332 lbs Mislabeled allergen

June 24, 

2014 Kraft Foods Group Velveeta Cheese 260 cases Processing Deviation

Does not contain appropriate 

levels of sorbic acid, a 

preservative

June 25, 

2014 K & W Sausage Sausage 1761 lbs Mislabeled allergens, soy and wheat

June 25, 

2014 Rudolph Foods Pork products 34 lbs Mislabeled

June 26, 

2014 Mr. Wok Foods Raw Pork Nugget 14760 lbs Mislabeled wheat allergen
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

June 27, 

2014

Health Matters America 

Inc. Chia Powder expanded contaminant Salmonella

June 27, 

2014 E.G. Emils & Sons, Inc. deli ham 5896 lbs contaminant extraneous materials

July 1, 2014 Flowers Foods Bar-B-Q bread, various brands unspecified Mislabeled milk

July 2, 2014 Oriya Organics, LLC Protein Medley unspecified contaminant Salmonella, contains Chia 

powder from other recalls

July 3, 2014 HEB Meat Processing fresh beef products 75465 lbs contaminant foreign materials

July 4, 2014 Foster Farms chicken products unspecified contaminant Salmonella Heidelberg

July 3, 2014 Kanani Foods chicken products 59 lbs Processing Deviation Not produced under proper 

HACCP plan

July 9, 2014 Whole Foods Market pre-packaged Caesar salad, 

Mesclun Goat Cheese salad

all sold on July 8 2014 in 

multiple States Mislabeled fish and egg allergen

July 16, 

2014 King of Pops banana puddin' pops unspecified Mislabeled milk, wheat, egg, and/or soy

July 18, 

2014

Mars Food North 

America

Uncle Ben's Ready Rice Garden 

Vegetable

2 lot cods, just short of 

2000 cases Mislabeled some pouches contained barley, not declared

July 18, 

2014 B.Roberts Foods grilled chicken entrees 202 lbs Mislabeled allergen, milk

July 21, 

2014

Wegmans Food 

Markets, Inc. in-store baked desserts unspecified contaminant Listeria, contain fresh peaches, nectarines, plums

July 21, 

2014

Wawona Packing 

Company

whole peaches, nectarines, 

plums, and pluots

certain lots packed 

between June 1, 2014 

and July 12, 2014

contaminant Listeria

July 21, 

2014 Whole Foods Market Chocolate Chewies unspecified Mislabeled tree nut allergen

July 22, 

2014 Sara Lee Foodservice smoked sausage 82440 lbs Mislabeled allergen

July 24, 

2014 Whole Foods Market stone fruit, including peaches, nectarines, and plums unspecified contaminant Listeria, related to Wawona Packing Co. recalls

July 24, 

2014 Earth Circle Organics Organic Carob powder all contaminant Salmonella

July 24, 

2014

Great American 

Marketing Ready-to-eat products 475 lbs contaminant Listeria

July 25, 

2014 Lion Pavilion LTD. Peach slices unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

July 25, 

2014 Dancing Star LLC Various snacks unspecified contaminant Listeria, related to Ciranda Inc.'s Carob powder recalls
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

July 25, 

2014 VU Foods, LLC Breaded Chicken products unspecified Produced without inspection

July 26, 

2014 Puritan Foods Co., Inc. Raw boneless turkey breasts 2476 lbs Mislabeled allergen

July 28, 

2014 TJX Companies, Inc. Sweet Paprika Powder unspecified contaminant Salmonella

July 28, 

2014 GoMacro

MACROBARS brand "almond 

butter + carob" and "sunflower 

butter + chocolate"

specific lots contaminant Salmonella

July 28,

2014 Carmel Food Group Butternut Squash Ravioli unspecified Mislabeled

mixed product with Sell by 

date of Apr 09 2015, 

allergens-milk, egg, soy

July 28, 

2014 CaCoCo, Inc. Organic Carob powder all contaminant Salmonella

July 29, 

2014 Starway Incorporated Roasted and Salted Pumpkin Seeds unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

July 29, 

2014 Erlo Distribution Inc. Carrot drink, Beet drink, Peanut Punch unspecified Mislabeled milk

July 30, 

2014

Hummingbird 

Wholesale Organic Carob powder all contaminant Salmonella

July 30, 

2014

SW Wisc Dairy Goat 

Products Coop Raw Milk Mild Cheddar Cheese Lot code 103-114 contaminant

Shiga toxin producing 

Escherichia Coli (STEC) 

0111:H8 bacteria

July 31, 

2014 Natural Grocers Carob Greens, Date/Flax/Tumeric unspecified contaminant Salmonella, carob powder from other recalls present

August 4, 

2014 Wawona Packing Co.

white and yellow peaches, white 

and yellow nectarines, plums and 

pluots

expanded contaminant Listeria

August 4, 

2014 VR Green Farms jarred food products unspecified Improper Production susceptible to contamination with Clostridium Botulinum

August 4, 

2014 Sunburst Superfoods Organic Carob Powder sold from March 12, 2014 to July 28th, 2014 contaminant Salmonella

August 5, 

2014 Oasis Brands, Inc Quesito Casero 12oz all with expiration date 09/27/14 contaminant Listeria

August 5, 

2014

Ortho Molecular 

Products

Lifecore Chocolate and Lifecore 

Complete Chocolate flavoring all lots Mislabeled milk

August 6, 

2014 Zemco Industries Inc. Smoked Sausage 106,800 lbs Mislabeled allergen
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

August 8, 

2014 Oberto's Brands Chicken Strips 57578 lbs Company Quality Issues

August 12, 

2014 Purdue fully-cooked chicken nuggets 15306 lbs contaminant extraneous materials

August 13, 

2014 Sunfood Organic Carob Powder all contaminant Salmonella

August 15, 

2014

McCormick & 

Company Ground Oregano

UPC 0-523561-6, 

BestBy dates of Aug 22 

16 H & Aug 22 16 H

contaminant Salmonella

August 15, 

2014 Whole Food Market Ground Beef 368 lbs contaminant E.coli O157:H7

August 19, 

2014

nSPIRED Natural 

Foods, Inc.

Arrowhead Mills Peanuts 

butters, Maranatha Almond 

Butters, misc. nut butters

Certain lots contaminant Salmonella

August 21, 

2014 APPA Fine Foods Chicken Caesar Salad kit 92657 lbs contaminant Listeria

August 21, 

2014

Nestle Prepared Foods 

Company

Lean Cuisine Culinary 

Collection Chicken with Peanut 

Sauce

limited quantity by UPC 

code 13800 10154 Mislabeled shrimp

August 27, 

2014

McCall Farms 

Incorporated

Turnip Greens and Mixed 

Greens unspecified Questionable seals

August 27, 

2014 TNUVA USA Chicken extra thin cutlets 8316 lbs contaminant Listeria

August 29, 

2014 Dole Fresh Vegetables Spinach unspecified contaminant walnuts

September 

1, 2014 Kraft Foods Group Select varieties of American singles pasteurized cheese 7691 cases

ingredient not stored 

in accordance w/ temp 

standards

September 

4, 2014 TJs Place Basil Pesto Pasta 20 containers contaminant Listeria

September 

4, 2014 La Orocovena Biscuit Pound Cake de Queso All with expiration dates 8/11/14 to 10/12/14 Mislabeled Milk, Wheat, and Soy

September 

5, 2014 Tullia's Italian Meatless Pasta Sauce All with code 530140 High pH level could allow growth of Clostridium botulinum

September 

6, 2014 Purdue Food LLC Raw, fresh chicken 720 lbs Processing Deviation in temperature

September 

8, 2014

Mars Chocolate North 

America TWIX unwrapped bites Code Date: 421BA4GA60 Mislabeled peanuts and eggs
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

September 

9, 2014 Publix Jalapeno Bagels Publix Jalapeno Bagels

all sold in bakery 

department in multiple 

States

contaminant glass and small stones

September 

11, 2014

Interbay Food 

Company, LLC

pork Banger-style sausage 

products 4820 lbs Mislabeled milk allergen

September 

12, 2014 Jerky By Art beef jerky unspecified Produced without benefit of inspection

also Mislabeled, milk and 

anchovies are not declared

September 

16, 2014

Taylor Farms Pacific, 

Inc. Roma Tomatoes specific lots contaminant Salmonella

September 

16, 2014

Gel Spice Company, 

Inc.

Fresh Finds-Ground Black 

Pepper 16443 cases contaminant Salmonella

September 

22, 2014

Mars Chocolate North 

America M&M Brand Theater Box UPC# 40000294764 Mislabeled peanut butter

September 

23, 2014 Glaser Organic Farms Organic Carob powder unspecified contaminant Salmonella

September 

23, 2014 Golden King Bakery Coconut Bun unspecified Mislabeled eggs

September 

23, 2014

Monogram Comfort 

Foods uncured beef corn dogs 607 lbs temperature abuse

September 

24, 2014

Gold Star Smoked Fish 

Corp Cold Smoked Steelhead unspecified contaminant Listeria

September 

25, 2014 The Original Soupman Lobster Bisque some amounts Mislabeled

Does not declare that shrimp, 

perch, or tilapia is in lobster 

base

September 

25, 2014 Caviness Beef Packers Beef trimmings 23100 lbs contaminant E.coli O157:H7

September 

25, 2014 Foster Farms pre-cooked chicken products 39747 lbs contaminant Listeria

September 

27, 2014

Delicious Beef Jerkey, 

LLC beef jerky 8 lbs Produced without benefit of inspection retail exemption

September 

29, 2014 Whole Foods Market Plain Streusel Coffeecake

All with Sell By date 

between Sept 19 and 

Sept 30 2014

Mislabeled tree nut allergen

September 

29, 2014

Dominguez Foods of 

Washington Inc. Plain Bread Crumbs unspecified Mislabeled Wheat, Whey (milk) and Soy

September 

30, 2014

Sam Kane Beef 

Processors, LLC Ground Beef Chub 2633 lbs contaminant foreign materials (plastic)
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

October 2, 

2014

Tropical Valley Foods 

Inc. Dark Chocolate Cherries 455 cases Mislabeled peanuts

October 2, 

2014 IKEA wholegrain pasta unspecified Mislabeled soy

October 2, 

2014 Olson Meat Pork Blood Product 160 lbs Produced without benefit of inspection

outside regular inspection 

hours

October 4, 

2014

Sam Kane Beef 

Processors, LLC Ground Beef 90987 lbs contaminant extraneous materials

October 6, 

2014

Markpol Distributors 

Inc.

Kupiec Rice Cakes with Dark 

Chocolate unspecified Mislabeled milk

October 3, 

2014 Vigil Beef Jerkey Co. Beef Jerky 48 lbs Shipped without mark of inspection

produced under retail 

exemption

October 6, 

2014 Galant Food Company Beef 410 lbs

Meat filling does not 

meet cooking critical 

limit

October 7, 

2014 HAR Maspeth Corp. Pan Fried Anchovies all 2oz and 4oz packages contaminant Listeria

October 7, 

2014

J&B European 

Distributing Inc. Rice Cakes with Dark Chocolate 40 cases Mislabeled milk

October 7, 

2014 Buddy's Kitchen Meat and poultry products 62488 lbs contaminant Listeria

October 8, 

2014 Oasis Brands, Inc Cuajada en Hoja 12oz Best by dates 10/1/14-10/8/14 and 10/18/14 contaminant Listeria

October 9, 

2014

LOTTE Confectionary 

Co. Ltd. Lotte Waffles unspecified Mislabeled egg ingredients

October 13, 

2014 Galant Food Company beef products expanded to additional 130 lbs

Meat filling does not 

meet cooking critical 

limit

October 14, 

2014

California Olive and 

Vine, LLC Pumpkin Seed Pesto unspecified Irregular Lab Results

October 14, 

2014 SunBurst Foods SunBurst, Fresh Bites, and Private labeled products all contaminant Listeria

October 14, 

2014

Real Foods of Seattle, 

LLC Mexican Cheddar Dip 96 units Mislabeled Allergen- egg

October 14, 

2014

Fresh Food 

Manufacturing Italian Style Wedding Soup 1008 lbs Mislabeled Allergens

October 16, 

2014 Shop Packaging LLC Chicken wing products 115505 lbs Mislabeled Allergens
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

October 17, 

2014

New Hope Mills 

Manufacturing

Gluten Free Chia Pancake and 

Waffle Mix unspecified Mislabeled soy

October 18, 

2014 JFC International, Inc 3-pack Hapi Pudding all lots Mislabeled milk

October 17, 

2014 E.&B.'s Natural Way raw lamb products 27948 lbs

Not presented for 

USDA-FSIS 

inspection at border

October 20, 

2014 Oasis Brands, Inc Lacteos Santa Martha products select lots contaminant Listeria

October 20, 

2014 Publix Super Markets Publix Asian Mix unspecified Mislabeled peanuts

October 20, 

2014

United Natural Trading 

LLC Asian 7 Rice Cracker Mix 22lb bulk cases, LOT# YOUI03, LOT# 14248 Mislabeled peanuts

October 22, 

2014 Bailey Farms, Inc. Fresh Serrano Chile Peppers 6215 lbs contaminant salmonella

October 24, 

2014 Rome Packing Co. All Natural Jonah Crab Leg Meat unspecified contaminant Listeria

October 24, 

2014

Aspen Foods Division 

of Koch Meats chicken products 28980 lbs contaminant Salmonella Enteritidis

October 25, 

2014 Murry's Inc. gluten free breaded chicken products 31689 lbs contaminant Staphylococcus enterotoxin

October 27, 

2014 Lundberg Family Farms Sea Salt Rice Chips unspecified Mislabeled allergen

October 27, 

2014 Z Natural Foods Lightly Roasted Organic Carob Powder 55lbs contaminant Salmonella

October 24, 

2014 Taylor Farms Broccoli Kale Salad with Chicken 377 lbs Mislabeled tree nut allergen

October 27, 

2014 Shur-Green Farms LLC Soyoil containing Lascadoil (Industrial processing waste oil) all loads contaminant

intended for non-food 

product/biofuels, but used as 

feed ingredient.

October 27, 

2014 Chetak New York LLC Deep Raw Cashew Pieces

5560 packages of 7oz, 

3840 of 14oz, 1920 of 

28oz

contaminant salmonella

October 28, 

2014 Whole Foods Market Vegan Gingersnap Cookies

sold only in Melrose, 

Massachusetts, SBD of 

10/28/14

Mislabeled tree nut, milk, soy, and egg 

allergens
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Date Company that sold 

recalled product What was recalled Estimate of recalled amount Why recalled? Specifics of why recalled?

October 30, 

2014 Carlton Foods Fresh Boudin products 25764 lbs contaminant

pre-cooked rice-temperature 

abuse, may have emetic 

toxin by Bacillus cereus

November 

3, 2014 Marathon Ventures, Inc raw macadamia nuts retail and bulk packages contaminant salmonella

November 

4, 2014

Taylor Farms New 

Jersey, Inc. WAWA Garden Rotini Salad 1510 units Mislabeled fish, wheat, and egg allergens

November 

5, 2014 Welcome Market, Inc. Various types of specialty Toast unspecified Mislabeled wheat, soy, and/or milk

November 

6, 2014 House of Spices Laxmi Nutkhhat Golden Raisin food treats unspecified Mislabeled sulfites

November 

6, 2014 CS Best Food Inc. pork products 6560 lbs Mislabeled allergens

November 

7, 2014

Schwartz Brothers 

Bakery "Everything Bagels" unspecified Mislabeled milk

November 

8, 2014

Marin Foods 

Specialties, Inc. Organic Raw Almonds all contaminant elevated levels of naturally occurring hydrogen cyanide

November 

9, 2014 Kulana Foods Ltd. frozen, fully cooked pork products 4465 lbs Mislabeled allergen
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Exhibit 4

Recall Notices for Unprocessed and Minimally Processed 

Specialty Crop Foods: 2012 through 2014
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Table D4. Specialty Food Crops Recalls: 2012 – 2014

Date Company Product Estimated Amount Cause Specific Contaminant

June 26, 2012 Banner Mountain Sprouts Sprouts 433 cases Bacteria Salmonella

July 6, 2012 Pacific International 

Marketing Romaine lettuce 19 cases Bacteria Salmonella

July 28, 2012 Hannaford Supermarkets Cantaloupes None specified Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

August 3, 2012 Burch Equipment LLC Whole Cantaloupes 580 cases Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

August 10, 2012 Burch Equipment LLC Cantaloupes 13,888 cases Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

August 10, 2012 Burch Equipment LLC Honeydew Melons total crop Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

August 8, 2012 Menno Beachy Organic Grape 

Tomatoes 15 cases Bacteria Salmonella

August 9, 2012 Fresco Green Farms Inc. Cilantro 1,643 cases Bacteria Salmonella

August 19, 2012 Tamimura and Antle Romaine lettuce 2,095 cases Bacteria E coli O157:H7

August 23, 2012 Chamberlain Farms Cantaloupes all production Bacteria Salmonella

August 31, 2012 BI-LO mango 6 weeks production Bacteria Salmonella

September 12, 

2012 DFI marketing Cantaloupes 28,000 cartons Bacteria Salmonella

September 19, 

2012 Kroger Fresh spinach 15 states one day’s production Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

September 27, 

2012 Fresh Express romaine one day’s production Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

November 10, 

2012 Rio Queen Citrus Cherry Tomatoes 840 cartons Bacteria Salmonella

November 21, 

2012 Capital City Cherry Tomatoes 4 day’s production Bacteria Salmonella

February 13, 2013 Taylor Farms Retail organic baby spinach one best by date, 39 

states Bacteria E. coli

April 15, 2013 Winn-Dixie apple juice All production one size toxin patulin

May 30, 2013 Fruit Treasure Thai peppers 43 boxes (25 lbs each) Bacteria Salmonella

June 10, 2013 Alderman Farms Sales organic cherry 

Tomatoes 10 cartons one lot Bacteria Salmonella

July 12, 2013 Western Mixers Produce & 

Nut Company Pistachio 6 month’s production, 3 sizes Bacteria Salmonella

August 18, 2013 Buurma Farms Fresh Cilantro 458 boxes Bacteria Listeria

October 17, 2013 Orange County Produce, 

LLC

Fresh red and green 

Bell Peppers not specified Bacteria Salmonella

February 10, 2014 Big Red Tomato Packers, 

LLC Fresh Tomatoes 790 boxes Bacteria Salmonella

February 13, 2014 Roth Farms Inc. Bunched Curly Parsley unspecified Bacteria Salmonella

May 6, 2014 Pacific Organic Produce Mangos “limited number” Bacteria Listeria
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Date Company Product Estimated Amount Cause Specific Contaminant

May 22, 2014 Sherman Produce Walnuts 241 cases Bacteria Listeria

May 27, 2014 Sun Tree LLC Walnuts 46 cases Bacteria Listeria

May 27, 2014 Belleville Farmer's Market Walnuts All production Bacteria Listeria

July 21, 2014 Wawona Packing 

Company

whole peaches, 

nectarines, plums, and 

pluots

certain lots packed 

between June 1, 2014 

and July 12, 2014

Bacteria

Listeria

July 24, 2014 Whole Foods Market

stone fruit, including 

peaches, nectarines, and 

plums

unspecified

Bacteria Listeria, related to Wawona Packing 

Co. recalls

August 4, 2014 Wawona Packing Co.

white and yellow 

peaches, white and 

yellow nectarines, 

plums and pluots

“expanded”

Bacteria

Listeria

September 16, 

2014 Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. Roma Tomatoes specific lots Bacteria Salmonella

October 22, 2014 Bailey Farms, Inc. Fresh Serrano Chile 

Peppers 6,215 lbs Bacteria Salmonella

November 3, 

2014 Marathon Ventures, Inc raw macadamia nuts “retail and bulk packages”

Bacteria Salmonella

November 8, 

2014

Marin Foods Specialties, 

Inc. Organic Raw Almonds All production contaminant elevated levels of naturally occurring hydrogen cyanide
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Attachment I

Overcoming the Impediments to Implementation of 

Food Safety and Contamination Issues Coverage 

Under an FCIC Program
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Overcoming Legislative Impediments

While it may be possible to interpret 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(1) in such a way that the Secretary might 

overcome the legislative impediments in that portion of the Act by an administrative action 

defining a food safety or contamination peril under specific circumstances as a natural disaster, 

the Contractor believes addressing the impediments of 7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(2), 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii), 

and 1508(m)(2)(A)(i) through (m)(2)(A)(iii) may require Congressional action. It is beyond the 

scope of the contract authorizing this study for the Contractor to propose specific language to 

amend the Act. However, the Contractor believes any such amendments would need to clarify 

the treatment of human actions to allow coverage for collateral damage caused by biological 

contamination of specialty crop foods. Furthermore, the timeframe (i.e., the insurance period) 

for coverage of losses due to a food safety and contamination issue would need to be addressed. 

Finally, language addressing both the timeliness of harvest when a crop is under a recall and the 

effects of any delay in harvest on quality may require changes to the Act.

Overcoming Impediment in the Policy Language

This impediment is among the most easily overcome. Policy language is regularly adjusted 

based on changing legislative authority and/or changes in production practices. Once the 

legislative impediment is eliminated, the language that identifies failure to harvest in a timely 

manner as an uninsurable cause of loss would have to be adjusted so delays in harvest due to 

recall are insurable. A similar adjustment to the statement identifying losses associated with the 

inability to market the crop as not uninsurable would be appropriate. The similarity of the 

language for each of these subjects among the various policies should simplify the 

implementation of these changes. Likewise, language could be added to the WFRP Provisions 

making recall or similar food safety-based events an insurable cause of loss. WFRP Provision 

21(d) could be changed to read:

“Decline in local market price will be presumed to be from unavoidable natural 

causes unless the Company [i.e., an Approved Insurance Provider (AIP)] or FCIC 

is able to specifically identify a man-made cause other than food safety event or 

recall that resulted in a measurable change in the price. In the case of such 

occurrence, the portion of the loss caused by the man-made event will not be 

covered.1”

Though as noted earlier, assigning a portion of price loss to any specific cause will at best be 

difficult. In addition, language concerning other excluded causes of loss under the WFRP 

provisions, including abandonment and failure to obtain the local market price would need to be 

modified appropriately.

Overcoming Procedural Impediments

For consistency and clarity, should recall be incorporated into the insurable causes of loss, it 

would be best if that inclusion were documented in the CIH and LAM, and perhaps in the Good 

Farming Determination Standards Handbook. Language for the LAM, appropriately identifying 

the procedures for adjusting losses due to recall will need to be drafted. Similar language for the 

WFRP Pilot Handbook (FCIC 18160) will need to be incorporated into that document. 

Language in that handbook in Section 92(16) stating: “Decline in local market prices due to 

man-made causes” are not insurable will need to be modified to provide for insurable losses due 

 

1 Emphasis added to identify the amendments to the text.
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to food safety and contamination issues. Furthermore, a recall loss code would need to be 

generated for the Manual 13 (Appendix III).

Overcoming Impediments Due to Lack of Available FCIC Crop-specific Coverage

The Contractor believes the WFRP plan provides the best opportunity for insurance of recall for 

the numerous specialty food crops for which no crop-specific policy exists. However, this 

coverage addresses the revenue of the whole farm. Consequently, whether a revenue loss due to 

food safety issues will be indemnified will be impacted by the farm structure, including the 

number of crops and the distribution of revenue among those crops. Furthermore, the current 

geographic coverage available under the WFRP leaves some areas without available coverage. 

Some of these areas have substantial specialty food crop production. However, RMA has 

indicated:

“Expansion to the areas not included for 2015 will be considered when 

underwriting can be completed in future insurance years. These areas were not 

similar enough to the existing Adjusted Gross Revenue and Adjusted Gross 

Revenue-Lite program areas for accurate underwriting and actuarial work to be 

completed for WFRP for 2015. Additional underwriting work will include the 

identification of: (1) Similar risk areas, (2) What commodities are grown in each 

risk area, (3) What data are available for actuarial work, and (4) Risks specific to 

the risk areas, along with the completion of all of the necessary actuarial work.”

2

Overcoming Actuarial Impediments

There are limited approaches for rating infrequent events whose potential severity is not well 

documented. Conducting a rating analysis for recall insurance is far beyond the scope of this 

study. However, the Contractor would note that similar actuarial impediments exist with the 

rating of quarantine. Yet, there is an FCIC pilot insurance endorsement providing coverage for 

losses due to quarantine experienced by California producers of citrus and avocadoes. That 

insurance was rated using an approach called the Delphi Process. The Delphi method was 

developed specifically for applications to address predictive problems when either few 

quantitative data are available or when the issue is too complex to effectively model under more 

traditional approaches. The method was developed by Project Rand during the 1950s and 1960s 

by Helmer, Dalkey, and Rescher for applications in the defense industry.

The Delphi method is an approach to obtain and quantify opinion and experience-based 

information from experts. Although there are valid criticisms of any rating approach that 

sacrifices quantitative rigor to obtain a broadly deductive solution, the Delphi approach can be 

used when sufficient quantitative data are not available to support traditional analyses.

The method has been used extensively for a wide range of applications, including modeling 

infrequent and potentially severe events including hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruption 

for insurance risk assessment. In the case of quarantine rating for FCIC insurance, the experts 

were asked for estimates of both the potential frequency and the anticipated severity of 

quarantine events. For recall, more data are available documenting the potential frequency of an 

 

2 USDA, RMA, 2014, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) Plan FAQs, http://www.rma.usda.gov/help/faq/wfrp.html, 

accessed November 2014.
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event than there are for quarantine. The Contractor refers the reader to the “Quarantine 

Endorsement Crop Insurance Program Updating Survey and Rating Material – Deliverable 1: 

Quarantine Endorsement Pilot Program Rate Update Report” produced for RMA under Order

Number: D12PD01237 for additional information about the Delphi process as it was used in a 

crop insurance product and to “The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications,” edited by

H.A. Linstone and M. Turoff”

3

for a general discussion of the approach.

The actuarial challenges of limited producer interest in paying an appropriate premium for food 

safety and contamination issues insurance are more intractable. The risks of improper rating of 

an insurance product with a very limited number of insureds are especially difficult. One way to 

overcome this problem is to offer the coverage as a mandatory part of the perils covered by a 

policy. In this case, a relatively small load to existing rates might be sufficient. In the case of 

recall of specialty food crops, this is exacerbated by the large number of crops that might be 

recalled, the differential risk of recall among those crops, and a limited ability to quantify the 

differences in relative risk. The Delphi Process works because the opinions of the experts on the 

panel regress toward a mean as the experts are provided information about the opinions of the 

other experts. The Contractor believes the noise in the initial expert opinion data concerning 

specialty food crop recalls, if the data are parsed at the crop level, will make it much more 

difficult to obtain consensus judgments from the expert panel. While not an insurmountable 

barrier, limited interest among potential insureds makes overcoming actuarial impediments to 

implementation of food safety and contamination issues insurance particularly challenging.

Overcoming Logistic Impediments 

The logistic impediments to implementation of food safety and contamination issues insurance 

derive primarily from the large number of specialty food crops. If changes are made to the FCIC 

program to provide coverage for losses due to food safety issues, they should not be made 

piecemeal (i.e., crop by crop). The least logistically challenging approach to providing coverage 

for these issues would be to implement that coverage as part of the Basic Provisions and the 

provisions of the WFRP. Alternatively, a mandatory food safety issues rider could be developed 

for use with all FCIC policies. However, depending on design, such changes could conflict with 

elements of the Act. Consequently, changes in the definitions and other elements of the Act 

itself would need to be made concurrently. Both these changes are substantive and affect more 

than one element in each of these documents.

The Act vests authority to define natural disasters with the Secretary of the United States 

Department of Agriculture (Secretary). An executive action by the Secretary could declare 

contamination by biological agents (i.e., bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) a natural disaster. 

As a natural disaster, such contamination could be added to the list of named, approved causes of 

loss. However, careful safeguards would be required to assure the conflicts between the new 

insured cause of loss language and language concerning negligent actions and good farming 

practices were appropriately resolved. It would also be necessary to adjust appropriately the 

language concerning human actions as excluded causes of loss so the collateral damage from the 

recall (as opposed to the direct losses due to the contamination itself) could be covered. While 

 

3 H.A. Linstone and M. Turoff (eds.), 2002, The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications, Turoff and Linstone, 

http://is.njit.edu/pubs/delphibook/delphibook.pdf, accessed July, 2012.
Research Report for the Study of Food Safety

Use or disclosure of information or data I4 Risk Management Agency

contained on this sheet is subject to the Order No: D14PD01117

restrictions on the title page of this report.

this approach would limit the logistic impediments to implementation of coverage for losses due 

to food safety and contamination issues, it would still require extensive changes to numerous 

documents managed by RMA on behalf of the FCIC. However, the activities required to 

implement these changes would be less than those required to introduce food safety and 

contamination issues coverage into each existing crop policy and to provide coverage for food 

safety and contamination issues for crops currently uninsured by crop specific policies.

A single endorsement or rider available for any covered crop or insurable revenue would 

accomplish the same efficiencies as changing the Basic Provisions and the WFRP Provisions. 

However, the data management and procedural requirements for such an endorsement would be 

greater than those for an amended Basic Provisions or for an amended WFRP Provisions. Such 

an endorsement could add specific named food safety and contamination issues risks as covered 

perils for a fixed percentage of premium. This premium could be established by the Delphi 

Process for all crops collectively. It could then be updated experientially either for all crops or 

for individual crops as data become available. One advantage of an endorsement is that it would 

allow growers to opt in or out. However, that opportunity would complicate the actuarial 

process and risks adverse selection by producers of crops more prone to recall.