9fbtechreview.com MARCH - APRIL 2026 (CDC) reported investigations into ten multi-state food-borne outbreaks in 2020, 19 outbreak investigations in 2019, and 24 outbreaks in 2018. The general group of pathogens of focus in the produce industry are E. Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria (40 percent of outbreaks were E. Coli related, 30 percent were Salmonella related, and 20 percent were Listeria related). The FDA database also has strong evidence that the industry is doing more diligence in food safety. There were fewer recalled food products in 2020, a trend that continues over the last several years. In other parts of the world, the European Union showed a decrease in food recalls from 2019 to 2020 of 3,484 to 3,414, and the United Kingdom from 179 to 146 in the same time period. While the produce industry has initiated recalls during the past three years, most have been as a result of precaution and diligence for consumer health and wellness, rather than any health impact to consumers. While we regularly use adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing to validate the cleaning and sanitation process, we are constantly evaluating and employing newer technologies that are pathogen-specific with results in hours rather than days. Traditional ATP testing is a very quick and effective tool to measure the presence of any living cells. Under the supervision of a trained and experienced team member, ATP testing is effective and ensures the appropriate and safe transfer of equipment from the cleaning and sanitation team back to operations. Equipment that can test for specific pathogens, rather than just ATP, are increasingly becoming available in the market at more affordable prices, approved by the government, and have fast response times. This will allow us to increase the speed of detecting specific pathogens (in less than 24 hours) therefore deploying corrective actions and root cause analysis faster, while also performing a larger quantity of tests.Fresh Del Monte is strategically leveraging advances in material science that will enable faster and more efficient cleaning and sanitizing, while also incorporating antibacterial qualities that prevent the growth of pathogens. Advances in technology and innovations in detecting pathogens have resulted in Fresh Del Monte engaging with the next generation of students. We develop networks with universities while also pursuing opportunities for underrepresented minorities. We are developing a program to engage with future leaders in science and technology through programs such as competitions where the next generation solves current issues. As the industry becomes more data and science-based, and with consumers demanding more options in the fresh space, Fresh Del Monte is well poised for the future of food safety internally and externally. Like the pathogens we seek to control, Fresh Del Monte is facing the challenges in food safety by adapting and evolving. Tech-enabled traceability will allow us to track products from field to fork more accurately in less time (hours to minutes) while reducing waste, enhancing transparency to the supply chain, and limiting the scope of any potential recall.
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