The FDA’s investigation traced the outbreak of Salmonella during the summer of 2021 back to a specific indoor growing facility in the Midwest operated by indoor farming company BrightFarms, which was using growing pond techniques with deep water culture and floating raft production methods. According to the investigation summary released last week, a sample collected from an outdoor storm water drainage pond adjacent to the facility was contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium — a genetic match to the outbreak strain.
“Although a conclusive root cause was not identified, the agency identified certain conditions and practices that could result in contamination, including the presence of a different serotype of Salmonella in pond water used to grow the leafy greens, growth media storage practices, water management practices, and general sanitation practices at the CEA that were inadequate to prevent the introduction or spread of microorganisms of public health significance into the leafy greens,” stated the FDA.
The investigation and its findings prompted the agency to publish a broader CEA industry-specific guidance, which includes safety measures such as better oversight of potential sources and routes of contamination; implementing rapid cooling techniques for the cold-holding of harvested leafy greens to prevent pathogen growth; and assess and mitigate risks associated with adjacent and nearby land uses that may impact CEA operations, in both rural and more urbanized settings. READ THE FULL LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS HERE.