The Importance Of Packaging In Food Safety And Health BY MARY DRAIN
September was National Food Safety Education Month (FSEM). Consumers are encouraged to take an active role in preventing foodborne illness by following proper food safety practic- es that can help lower their chance of getting sick. It’s also a great op- portunity to remind consumers about the important role that pack- aging plays to keep goods clean and safe on their journey to consumers, whether it’s to their favorite restaurants and stores, or to their front doorsteps. Fresh produce has been documented by the U.S. Cen- Mary Drain
ter for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a leading source of food-borne illness (CDC, 2015). With the pas- sage of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
in 2011, the supply chain has become an even greater source of scrutiny for growers, shippers and retailers. FSMA now requires U.S. entities to take a proactive rather than reactive approach to food safety (US FDA, undated). Food-borne illness has not been directly associated with shipping and transport con- tainers. But our industry has done our due diligence by conducting multiple indepen- dent studies, which confirm that corrugated containers that transport fresh produce are safe and clean. There are a combination of United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re- quirements that must be met for compliance with food packaging regulations. While you may think you’re not involved since the reg- ulations are specific to direct food contact, your customers may assume it includes all packaging. This means it helps to be knowl- edgeable on the subject. Two FAQs on the Fibre Box Association (FBA) website at fibrebox.org provide spe- cific information on what you need when a customer asks for certification of compli- ance with food safety requirements. If you aren’t part of a direct food contact program, since neither the USDA nor the FBA certify or approve packaging materials, box plants must self-certify with a Statement of Assur- ance, or with a “Continuing Product Guar- antee.” Please see the FAQs for specific details. PFAS, synthetic chemicals known also as per- and poly-fluoroalkyls, have been regulated lately in at least 21 states. This in-
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