Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network
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FOOD SAFETY HITS THE HIGHWAY: TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS
Edited by: Stephanie Wallner, M.S., Mary Schroeder, M.S., R.D, Pat Kendall, Ph.D., R.D., Colorado State - Winter 2007
Problems related to food safety and illnesses caused by food are often focused on the beginning or end of the food chain (the farm or the table, as some would say). Often overlooked in importance is the transportation process that brings food from its origin to the consumers who use it. Food travels from the producer, to one or more processors, to the distributor, to the seller, and finally to the consumer, creating a path with many steps at which food safety precautions must be considered. Currently, there are no required standard regulations at each step, so it is difficult to ensure that sufficient procedures are in place to keep food safe during transport. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are regulations at the local, state, and federal levels that apply to certain general aspects of transportation, but specific guidelines for the safe transport of food products are still a work in progress. In the United States, the most closely related guidelines in place are for the humane treatment of animals during transport.
New Guidelines
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a branch of USDA, recently has developed guidelines for safe handling of food products during transportation, outlined in a report titled "FSIS Safety and Security Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products." These guidelines focus on preventing contamination of meat, poultry, and eggs during loading, transport, and unloading. There are two main sections in this report, which is targeted toward shippers, receivers, and food transporters. The first section highlights general food safety measures to prevent contamination of meat, poultry, and eggs during transport, while the second section focuses more specifically on security measures related to terrorist activity. Both sections cover all points of transport, from production to retail.
Report Highlights
The FSIS report suggests that food safety during transport can be maintained with prevention of contamination at various steps. For example, maintaining refrigeration temperatures cold enough during loading and unloading is especially critical in keeping food safe. Another key guideline states that vulnerable points in the transportation process should be identified, for which processors, distributors, and others involved need to have a comprehensive sanitation and safety plan. FSIS also recommends thorough training for any personnel involved in food transport and handling, as well as development and proper execution of a comprehensive system for keeping food safe. Additionally, the FSIS report covers vehicle design and sanitation, pre-loading and loading procedures, in-transit safety measures, unloading procedures, emergency operations, employee screening, and facility security.
Security Concerns
Because the FSIS guidelines are just recommendations rather than enforced rules for food transporters, the lack of standard requirements for food transport is somewhat unsettling. Concerns over secure transportation of food are becoming more prominent with increased discussion of bioterrorism as a valid food safety threat. Transport of food across national borders is of particular concern to government officials. The U.S. Bioterrorism Act has recently outlined new requirements for food products imported from outside the country.
Within the U.S., safe transport of food domestically is also increasingly important. According to the USDA, trucks carry 80-90% of all consumer products within the U.S., including food products. Since most of what we eat is likely carried on a truck at some point, it is reassuring that commercial trucking has not yet been indicated as a source in any major foodborne illness outbreak. As government officials continue to work on maintaining and improving the safety of the food transportation industry, the FSIS guidelines provide a basis for what some day may become future requirements in the United States.
Sources:
- Doering, R.L. "Keep on Truckin': Transportation is often the missing link in food safety," April 20, 2006. United States Food Safety Research Information Office website, available at: http://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/news_article.php?article_id=3320.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. FSIS Safety and Security Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products. February 14, 2006. Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Transportation_Security_Guidelines.pdf.
