Sprout Safety

1
Sprout Safety

• Kean Ashurst Caudill Seed Inc.

2
Contents

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

3
Alternate Seed Sanitation Methods and Results of
Field Applications

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

4
Alternate Seed Sanitation Methods and Results of
Field Applications

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

5
Seed Washing and Sanitizing

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

6
Evaluation Program

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

7
Evaluation Program (cont.)

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

8
Evaluation Program (cont.)

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

9
Evaluation Program (cont.)

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

10
Evaluation Program (cont.)

• We Got a Winner

11
Evaluation Program (cont.)
12
Effective Washing Implementation

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

13
Washing Sanitizing Seed

• Note rolling action of seed.

• Note debris removed from the seed.

14
Current Status of Program

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

15
Current Status of Program (cont.)

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

16
Other Sources of contamination

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

17
CAUSES OF FOOD PATHOGEN OUTBREAKS IN SPROUTS
SPROUT PRODUCTION IN CHAMBER
WASHING PACKAGING/SHIPING
TEMPERATURE ABUSE Of PRODUCT
WATER TEMPERATURE/product NOT BELOW 40F
AIR QUALITY IN GROWING CHAMBER
EMPLOYEE PRACTICES
NO REGULATIONS
WATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION
POOR/NO SANITIZER
NO STANDARDS OF IDENTITY
NO REGULATIONS
NO HACCP(REAL)
NO QA/QC PROGRAMS
HARVESTING PROCEDURES
PRODUCT RECALLS CONSUMER ILLNESS
SEED NOT WASH SANITIZED
STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION
CONSTRUCTION
PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING SEED from FIELD
SIGNWAVE SANITATION
PRODUCT AND EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC
FIELD GROWING CONDITIONS
NO REGULATIONS
EQUIPMENT CONDITION AND DESIGN
SEED CONTAMINATION
FACILITY CONDITIONS
INDUSTRY/REGULATORY-CO-OP
18
To Combat other Sources of Contamination

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

19
To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

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

20
To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

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

21
To Combat other Sources of Contamination (cont.)

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

22
In Summary

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

23
Importance of Sprouts

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