Since the early 20th century, the government has been active in their efforts to trace fruit from farm to table. The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) which took effect in 1930 was the foundation for produce traceability, although the focus was less about informing the consumer and more about safety for business as it regulated the buying and selling of fresh and frozen product to prevent unfair trading practices.
Since then, there have been dozens of laws and regulations concerning food safety enacted by the government. In spite of the best efforts of the producers, sometimes produce can come into contact with a foreign contaminant. Without careful labeling to trace a product back through the supply chain, recalls and warranties for products would be nearly impossible. Now, through a simple code printed on produce packaging or on a sticker label for fruits and vegetables, we can quickly discover the entire process our produce traveled through to get to our local grocery store.
The Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) became the first modern industry-wide effort to keep consumers’ produce safe when industry leaders recognized that by working together to improve chain traceability they could also enhance the speed and efficiency of production and delivery. Collectively, these industry leaders handle an estimated 6 billion cases of produce in the US annually and have a huge impact in what and how we eat.
So how does the PTI keep you safe? In more ways than you may realize.
1. Your Favorite Retailers Are Participating in the PTI.
Among the 60+ participating industry companies that are a part of the PTI you are sure to recognize names such as: Chiquita/Fresh Express, Del Monte Fresh Produce Company, Dole Food Company, Food Lion, Publix Supermarkets, Safeway, The Kroger Company, Walmart, and Whole Foods. So the next time you’re out doing groceries know that many of your local grocery stores are on your side and working to keep you safe.
2. The PTI Keeps International Imports Safe.
Although in 2002 the U.S government introduced the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 which required that food handlers keep records documenting where food was sourced and shipped from, the PTI’s goal is to improve upon these standards. All companies that participate in the PTI keep their own unique traceability systems for domestic produce but now all use similar systems with their trading partners and “speak the same language” when dealing with foreign produce. This makes it easier than ever for retailers to know where their produce is coming from overseas and pass that information onto the public.
3. Contaminated Produce Can Easily Be Detected and Eliminated with PTI.
You may remember when a cantaloupe salmonella outbreak occurred in 20 states last year. Consumers became so fearful that they not only avoided unaffected cantaloupe but other melons as well. However, if consumers had known that companies participating in the PTI quickly worked together to detect the source of the contamination and then cease stocking their shelves with any produce from that particular source maybe they could have shopped with peace of mind. The reality is that the PTI has made it more efficient than ever for companies to remove contaminated produce from store shelves and as a result, save lives. Luckily, tracing this produce is now as easy as reading a fruit label and the coding printed on the packaging.
