Good Agricultural Practices for Pecans

Lenny WellsUniversity of Georgia

• GAPs TopicsGAPs Topics1.1. WaterWater2.2. Manure and Municipal BiosolidsManure and Municipal Biosolids3.3. Worker Health and HygieneWorker Health and Hygiene4.4. Sanitary FacilitiesSanitary Facilities5.5. Field SanitationField Sanitation6.6. Shelling/Cleaning FacilitiesShelling/Cleaning Facilities7.7. TransportationTransportation8.8. TracebackTraceback

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Reduce Risks of Microbial ContaminationReduce Risks of Microbial Contamination

Why Should We Care?

Every year microbial contamination results in an Every year microbial contamination results in an estimated:estimated:

• 76 million cases of foodborne illness.76 million cases of foodborne illness.• 325,000 people hospitalized for 325,000 people hospitalized for

foodborne illness.foodborne illness.• 5,200 needless deaths each year.5,200 needless deaths each year.• Economic losses between 10-83 billion Economic losses between 10-83 billion

dollars.dollars.

How many outbreaks have been linked to Nuts?How many outbreaks have been linked to Nuts?Variety Product Pathogen Year Outbreak Location(s)Almond Raw whole Salmonella Enteritidis PT 30 2000-01 Canada, USA

Raw whole Salmonella Enteritidis PT 9c 2004 Canada, USA Raw whole Salmonella Enteritidis 2005-06 Sweden

Coconut Desiccated Salmonella typhi, Salmonella Senftenberg and possibly others

1953 Australia

Desiccated Salmonella Java PT Dundee 1999 United KingdomMilk Vibrio cholerae 1991 USA

Hazelnut Conserve (for yogurt) Clostridium botulinum 1989 United KingdomPeanut Canned Clostridium botulinum 1986 Taiwan

Savory snack Salmonella Agona PT 15 1994-95 United Kingdom, Israel Peanut butter Salmonella Mbandaka 1996 AustraliaFlavored or roasted in-shell

Salmonella Stanleyand Salmonella Newport

2001 Australia, Canada, United Kingdom

Peanut butter Salmonella Tennessee 2006-07 USAPeanut butter, peanut butter-containing products

Salmonella Typhimurium 2008-09 USA

Sesame seed

Halva Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104

2001 Australia, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany

Salmonella Montevideo 2002 AustraliaAdapted from Danyluk et al., 2007

Intrinsic Safety of Pecans - BeliefsIntrinsic Safety of Pecans - Beliefs

• The thick shells of some nuts are thought to The thick shells of some nuts are thought to be an effective barrier to microbial be an effective barrier to microbial penetrationpenetration

• The presence of a hull or husk is thought to The presence of a hull or husk is thought to further reduce the risk of microbial invasion.further reduce the risk of microbial invasion.

• The internal surface of a dry intact kernel The internal surface of a dry intact kernel picked from the tree is virtually sterile picked from the tree is virtually sterile (Chipley and Heaton, 1971; Meyer and (Chipley and Heaton, 1971; Meyer and Vaghun, 1969)Vaghun, 1969)

Intrinsic Safety of Pecans - RealityIntrinsic Safety of Pecans - Reality

• Hull or shell splitting can occur on the prior to or Hull or shell splitting can occur on the prior to or after harvestafter harvest– Different varieties have widely differing shell thicknessesDifferent varieties have widely differing shell thicknesses– Birds, other vertebrates or insects may also damage the Birds, other vertebrates or insects may also damage the

shellshell– Shells may crack along the suture during wetting or Shells may crack along the suture during wetting or

drying.drying.– Pecan nut packing tissue is toxic to salmonella, affording Pecan nut packing tissue is toxic to salmonella, affording

some protection to initial contamination and survival some protection to initial contamination and survival (Beuchat and Heaton, 1974).(Beuchat and Heaton, 1974).

Pecan Outbreaks

• July 2009– General Mills announces recall of certain lots of

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters, due to the possibility that pecans used in the Nut Clusters might be "... tainted with Salmonella."

So what can be done?• PreventionPrevention

– Try to avoid contaminatingTry to avoid contaminatingthe product in the firstthe product in the firstplace.place.

– Once food becomes contaminated, its almost impossible to Once food becomes contaminated, its almost impossible to clean completely.clean completely.

GAPs - WaterGAPs - Water

• This consideration should include water used This consideration should include water used for irrigation, mixing pesticides and other for irrigation, mixing pesticides and other foliar-applied products, equipment sanitation, foliar-applied products, equipment sanitation, product sanitation, and cooling operations.product sanitation, and cooling operations.

• The operator should be aware of the source, The operator should be aware of the source, distribution, and quality of all water utilized.distribution, and quality of all water utilized.

Water Carries PathogensWater Carries Pathogens

• E. coliE. coli O157:H7 viewed primarily as a water- O157:H7 viewed primarily as a water-borne pathogen.borne pathogen.

• Salmonella, GiardiaSalmonella, Giardia and and Cyclospora Cyclospora outbreaks on produce caused by outbreaks on produce caused by contaminated water.contaminated water.

Spray Water QualitySpray Water Quality

• Use potable (drinking) water for pesticide Use potable (drinking) water for pesticide sprays. sprays.

• When potable water is not available, test When potable water is not available, test water quality and keep records.water quality and keep records.

GAPs – Manure and Municipal GAPs – Manure and Municipal BiosolidsBiosolids

• Properly treated manure or biosolids can be an effective and Properly treated manure or biosolids can be an effective and safe fertilizer if the proper precautions are in place.safe fertilizer if the proper precautions are in place.

• Use treatments to reduce pathogens in manure and other Use treatments to reduce pathogens in manure and other organic materials. Treatments may be active (e.g., organic materials. Treatments may be active (e.g., composting) or passive (e.g., aging). composting) or passive (e.g., aging).

GAPs – Manure and Municipal GAPs – Manure and Municipal BiosolidsBiosolids

• Be aware that sitting manure treatment and Be aware that sitting manure treatment and storage sites close to orchards increases the risk storage sites close to orchards increases the risk of contamination. of contamination.

• Consider factors such as slope and rainfall and Consider factors such as slope and rainfall and the likelihood of runoff into orchardthe likelihood of runoff into orchard

• Use barriers or physical Use barriers or physical containment to secure storage containment to secure storage and treatment sites.and treatment sites.

• Do not apply manure to the Do not apply manure to the orchard <180 days prior to harvestorchard <180 days prior to harvest

Exclude AnimalsExclude Animals• Manage rodents and Manage rodents and

birds in cleaning plants birds in cleaning plants and storage areas.and storage areas.

• No dogs or other pets in No dogs or other pets in the orchards. the orchards.

• Keep wildlife out of Keep wildlife out of production areas as production areas as much as possible.much as possible.

SalmonellaSalmonella and nut production and nut production• Grazing domestic animals is practiced in Grazing domestic animals is practiced in

some regionssome regions– E. coli E. coli levels on pecans levels on pecans

increased from 4% to 23% increased from 4% to 23% following grazingfollowing grazing

– Contamination on pecans Contamination on pecans increased to 36%, increased to 36%, with grazing in a wetwith grazing in a wetproduction year production year (Marcus and Amling, 1973)(Marcus and Amling, 1973)

Courtesy of Dr. M. Danyluk

GAPs – Worker Health and GAPs – Worker Health and HygieneHygiene

• Train employees to follow good hygiene practices. Train employees to follow good hygiene practices.

• Establish a training program about health and hygiene. Establish a training program about health and hygiene. Include basics, such as proper handwashing techniques Include basics, such as proper handwashing techniques and the importance of using toilet facilities.and the importance of using toilet facilities.

• Become familiar with typical signs and symptoms of Become familiar with typical signs and symptoms of infectious diseases.infectious diseases.

• Offer protection to workers with cuts or lesions Offer protection to workers with cuts or lesions

GAPs – Sanitary FacilitiesGAPs – Sanitary Facilities

• Toilet facilities should be properly located.Toilet facilities should be properly located.

• Toilet facilities should be accessible Toilet facilities should be accessible and clean.and clean.

• Toilet facilities and handwashingToilet facilities and handwashingstations should be well-supplied.stations should be well-supplied.

GAPs – Field SanitationGAPs – Field Sanitation

• Clean harvest containers or bins prior to use. Clean harvest containers or bins prior to use. • Use harvesting equipment appropriately and Use harvesting equipment appropriately and

keep it as clean as practicable. keep it as clean as practicable.

GAPs – Cleaning Plants/Shelling GAPs – Cleaning Plants/Shelling FacilitiesFacilities

• Proper sorting and culling.Proper sorting and culling.

• Enforce Good Worker Enforce Good Worker Hygiene.Hygiene.

• Exclude all animals from Exclude all animals from facility, especially insects, facility, especially insects, birds and rodents.birds and rodents.

• Clean and Sanitize Clean and Sanitize Equipment.Equipment.

• Detectable Free Chlorine Detectable Free Chlorine in Wash Waters.in Wash Waters.

GAPs - TransportationGAPs - Transportation• Good hygienic and sanitation practices should be used Good hygienic and sanitation practices should be used

when loading, unloading, and inspecting pecans. when loading, unloading, and inspecting pecans. • Inspect transportation vehicles for cleanliness, odors, Inspect transportation vehicles for cleanliness, odors,

and obvious dirt and debris before loading. and obvious dirt and debris before loading. • Avoid leaving harvested crop in the sun and maintain Avoid leaving harvested crop in the sun and maintain

proper temperatures throughout the transportation proper temperatures throughout the transportation process. process.

• Load pecans to minimize cracking.Load pecans to minimize cracking.

GAPs - TracebackGAPs - Traceback

• Documentation should include the source of Documentation should include the source of the product, the date of harvest, farm the product, the date of harvest, farm identification, and a record of who handled identification, and a record of who handled the product.the product.

• The product must be traceable from the farm The product must be traceable from the farm through the accumulator, sheller,distributor, through the accumulator, sheller,distributor, transporter, and retailer.transporter, and retailer.

If you did not If you did not RECORD IT,RECORD IT,

you did not do ityou did not do it..• Record keeping allows you to keep track of farming Record keeping allows you to keep track of farming

and packing operations and worker training.and packing operations and worker training.

• Record keeping documents yourRecord keeping documents youractivities should this informationactivities should this informationever be required.ever be required.

Be Active and Be ReadyBe Active and Be Ready• Make changes to management practices as Make changes to management practices as

needed.needed.

• Keep good records of all production practices.Keep good records of all production practices.

• Teach employees the importance of prevention Teach employees the importance of prevention strategies and provide proper facilities.strategies and provide proper facilities.

• Work with upstream neighbors and local Work with upstream neighbors and local watershed committees on management goals.watershed committees on management goals.

• Update your plan regularly.Update your plan regularly.