A model consumer food safety programme has completed more than 500 inspections in its first year thanks to the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA).

In 2007 California farmers came together to raise the bar for food safety. As a result, the LGMA was formed as members work collaboratively to protect public health by reducing potential sources of contamination in California-grown leafy greens. There have been no confirmed major incidents since the creation of the LGMA, which has received very favourable reviews from an independent panel of academics.

Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of LGMA, said: “The LGMA represents an unprecedented commitment to food safety and public health. While there is always much more work to be done, the leafy greens industry has come a long way in the last 12 months.”

At the heart of the LGMA programme is the mandatory government inspection programme which certifies that member companies are implementing food-safety practices, which were developed by university and industry scientists, food safety experts, farmers, shippers and processors. These food-safety practices were also reviewed by state and federal government health agencies. All LGMA member companies are subject to mandatory government inspections on a regular but random basis to ensure LGMA-accepted food safety practices are being implemented. The inspections are conducted by California Department of Food and Agriculture inspectors who receive special training and certification from the US department of agriculture.

LGMA members represent more than 99 per cent of the volume of leafy green products produced in California. If an LGMA member is found to be out of compliance with the established food safety practices, they can be decertified from the programme. Buyers of leafy green products support the LGMA programme by only purchasing these products from certified member companies.

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