1. Food Safety Richard Paterini Food Safety Supervisor rpaterini@pa.gov

2. Discussion points Food Safety- Chapter 46 HACCP Principals GAP
School Gardens
Questions

3. Chapter 46- PA FOOD CODE Statewide standard for inspection
Pa Department of Agriculture
Local Health Departments
Based off of the FDA Model Food Code
Legislation pending: 2009, plus 2011 Supplement
Schools inspected 2x/year if receiving Federal Funds. 1x/year if no funding.
Daycares-no Kindergarten = not inspected by PDA.
Dept of Welfare inspects daycares.

4. HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
HACCP is not mandated for schools in the PA Food Code.
Mandated through USDA
School Food Safety Program- HACCP based system for food safety- USDA
Oversight by PDE- Division of Food and Nutrition

5. HACCP ‘HACCP Based Standard Operating Procedures’ Seven Principals
USDA/NFSMI
Seven Principals
Hazard Analysis
Determine Critical Control Points
Establish Critical Limits
Establish Monitoring Procedures
Establish Corrective Actions
Establish Verification Procedures
Establish Record Keeping/Documentation

6. Buying Local
Can purchase raw agricultural commodities (fruits/veggies) from any local grower and use them in school food service or any institution or retail food facility.
Local growers of raw ag. commodities are not licensed
Only purchase processed food from approved sources
Someone under inspection as a food processor by PDA (home food processor as well) or another regulatory agency such as USDA, FDA or other State.
Local retail food store or market who is under inspection by PDA or a Local Health Department

7. Know Your Grower
Does your grower use Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)??
USDA program, Federal and Federal-State Inspection Staff
Voluntary for growers
Cost share available to growers
Audit results posted on USDA’s website- with participants permission
Is your grower voluntarily GAP Certified??
Have you visited your grower??

8. GAP
The farmers in Pennsylvania produce quality products but recently, due to foodborne illnesses there has been an emphasis on Good Agricultural Practices.
Farmers can prevent on-farm contamination of fruits & vegetables using “Good Agricultural Practices” (GAP)

9. GAP
The GAP Audit has been available since Food Safety begins at the farm -Completed in conjunction with USDA -Has it’s basis in the USDA School Lunch program

10. GAP Audit Participant must have control over:
Water
Manure and Municipal bio-solids
Worker health and hygiene
Sanitary design
Field Sanitation
Packing facility sanitation
Transportation
Trace back
Food Defense

11. Are you the grower?
Anyone can have a garden and use the raw fruits and veggies from that garden
Garden products may be used as food in the school
Must maintain good control over fruits and vegetable to prevent illness
“Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”.
If you are going to further process products, such as canning or similar- talk with your Food Inspector first.

12. For more information on GAP
Learn more about the PDA/USDA third party audit program by contacting:
Brenda Sheaffer
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Food Safety & Laboratory Services
Eggs, Fruits and Vegetables Division
2301 N Cameron Street Rm 112
Harrisburg PA
EXT 211
For more information about the PDA GAP audit cost share reimbursement program contact
Jared Grissinger at

13. School gardens
Lot of great information is available through PDA, PA Dept of Education, USDA, and NFSMI
Handling Fresh Produce in Classrooms
Verifying On-Farm Food Safety
School Garden Food Safety Best Practices
Best Practices- Handling Fresh Produce in Schools
Food Safety Tips for School Gardens

14. www.EatSafePa.com Richard Paterini rpaterini@pa.gov 724-443-1585
Questions?
Richard Paterini