MELON growing in the Riverina region is historical and significant in terms of contribution to national melon industry and generation of local employment.
The region is known for supply of high quality and safe melons to domestic and export markets from late December through to May.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has been working with melon growers and packers in the region to protect industry’s food safety reputation and to improve their competitiveness through supply of safe produce.
The department has shown continuous commitment to support growers and local businesses through delivery of new solutions, adoption of best practice, preventive approach to manage food safety risks, and preparedness in the event of a market failure.
Rockmelons from a farm in Northern Territory have been recently implicated in a multi-state Salmonella outbreak sickening about 180 people.
These outbreaks often have devastating effects on industry due to product recalls, cancellation of supply contracts and loss in sales and consumer confidence.
Dr SP Singh, who leads a Research Program on Food Safety for Horticultural Industries, has been conducting research in finding gaps in preharvest and postharvest practices that could potentially compromise food safety of rockmelons.
The research project is built on the philosophy that preventive approach to manage risks is the most effective and economical rather than responding to crisis and food safety incidents.
“Finding the gaps and ‘minding’ the gaps is the mantra to achieve safe supply of produce to consumers,” he said.
“Proximity to ground and rough-netted skin of rockmelons pose food safety challenges to growers and packers to ensure the produce is free from human pathogens which could get onto fruit from field and postharvest environments.
“Foodborne pathogens can get attached to the rockmelon surfaces and survive postharvest sanitation process if the fruit are not washed and brushed properly in the presence of optimum concentrations of chemical sanitisers.
“The recent foodborne outbreak caused by rockmelons from NT has instigated packers in the Riverina region to raise more food safety queries to the project team.
“Though these events are unfortunate from public health as well as industry losses perspectives, but the lessons learnt through traceback investigations are helpful to improve the industry practice.
“Our food safety risk assessments at melon growing field and packing sheds have reinforced that wash water quality, brushing, water spray volume and pressure, presence of a sanitiser, regular monitoring of sanitation processes and record keeping are the keys to processing safe rockmelons.
“Recirculation of wash water without filtration and sanitation to pot water quality is one of the most critical hazards that can lead to a large scale cross-contamination of rockmelons.
“Mixing of fungicides and sanitisers which are not chemically compatible is another practice which could lead to complacency about the use of sanitisers with limited or without any antimicrobial efficacy.
Last week, a team of researchers from DPI horticulture and regulators from NSW Food Authority jointly organised a workshop and information session on "Food Safety of Rockmelons" in Griffith.
The workshop was intended to deliver food safety research outcomes and inform regulatory requirements ensuring safe supply of melons in the forthcoming season.
Dr Craig Shadbolt, manager, food incident response and complaints from NSW Food Authority shared with growers the experiences from traceback investigations related to rockmelons and briefed them about the food safety and traceability requirements.
All major growers in the region participated in the workshop.
On the next day, research and compliance staff visited melon growers and packers to assess their preparedness and provide technical advice making sure knowledge and practice gaps are addressed.
Roy Schirripa, a melon grower from Whitton near Leeton, said he has been growing rockmelons for about 50 years, but the recent food safety issues have alerted him to revisit his growing and postharvest handing practices.
The research was jointly funded by NSW DPI and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) under an international development project on “Integrated Crop Management of Vegetables in Philippines”.
The findings of research in Australia are being translated into improving food safety of vegetable supply chains in the Philippines.
For further information, contact, Dr. SP Singh: sp.singh@dpi.nsw.gov.au or (02) 4348 1935.
- Copy supplied by NSW DPI.
