Fresh Express Produce Safety Research Initiative

In 2006, prior to the tragic fresh Spinach E. coli outbreak, Fresh Express formed a Scientific Advisory Panel comprised of nationally respected food safety experts to help guide the company in learning more about the little-understood E. coli O137:H7 pathogen and its potential impact on lettuce and leafy greens. Although the company was not involved in the outbreak, Chiquita Fresh Express none-the-less allocated $2 million in research funds to study the pathogen under the panel’s leadership. Panel members, who continue to support the initiative, include:

Following an open Request for Proposal process calling for research proposals from around the country based on five areas of critically needed research, the Scientific Advisory Panel selected a total of nine projects from a field of 65, awarding Fresh Express funds of approximately $250,000 to each.

On September 11 2008, all research projects were reported publicly for the first time at the Fresh Express Fresh Produce Safety Research Conference, a summit held to honor the company’s pledge to broadly share findings with the entire industry.

Fresh Express Scientific Advisory Panel

• Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Chair
• Dr. Jeff Farrar, DMV, PhD, MPH, California Department of Public Health
• Dr. Bob Buchanan, PhD, formerly of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, now director, Center for Food Systems Security and Safety, University of Maryland
• Dr. Robert Tauxe, MD, MPH, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Dr. Bob Gravani, PhD, Cornell University
• Dr. Craig Hedberg, PhD, University of Minnesota

Five Areas of Needed Research

1. The potential for the internalization of E. coli O157:H7 into lettuce tissue
2. Mitigation strategies and technologies
3. Environmental sources and vectors for contamination
4. Ability of E. coli O157:H7 to multiply in the presence of normal background flora
5. Ability of E. coli O157:H7 and other enteric pathogens to survive composting processes

Summary of Key Research Findings

	Download the Complete Research Synopses from 2008
	Download the Complete Research Synopses from 2007