The underlying philosophy of the GAPs is the concept of minimizing contamination at every step in the food chain, rather than trying to eliminate contamination at the end. A. American consumers want the safest and best quality food they can buy. The desire to reduce the legal liability associated with produce is also a driving force in this effort. The high-profile cases that occurred on the Mainland involving cantaloupes, raspberries, and sprouts could also occur here. Foods that are usually eaten raw, such as leafy greens, sprouts, and fruits, are of particular concern.
Food safety is everyone's responsibility.
Produce farmers are just the latest in a list of food-related businesses that the government is looking at to reduce the chance of food contamination. Currently, all processed foods are under mandated controls. This includes meat processing and juice production. Further, egg producers and fishing businesses are becoming more regulated. These regulations are similar to what auto manufacturers are required to meet when it comes to car safety standards.