The state’s Agriculture Department is holding a Recall Ready Workshop later this month to prepare producers and food distributors for efficient product recalls.
Foodborne illnesses affect about 1 in 6 Americans every year according to the FDA, and the Delaware Ag Department will educate farmers and businesses on what to do in the event of a product recall.
Participants will learn about their rights and responsibilities, the role of regulatory agencies, how to limit their liability in the event of an outbreak and how to manage customer expectations.
Environmental health specialist, Amanda Ziegler, says Delaware’s family farms are very proactive in preventing foodborne illnesses.
“In Delaware, we’re very fortunate because our family farms are very serious. Delaware’s family farms undergo training and food safety, they take time to educate their staff on protocols, they take pride in their products.”
There has never been a foodborne illness outbreak among Delaware produce farmers, but environmental health specialist, Anna Wicks, says it’s best to be prepared.
“It’s important that companies be prepared and ready to act in the beginning if their farm is ever to be identified as putting out an implicated contaminated product. So by attending this training if a produce grower were to ever endure a product recall they will be better prepared to handle that situation.”
The workshop is scheduled for January 22, 2020 at Dover Downs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online registration is required but free at de.gov/producesafety. Registration closes on January 10.