Orlando, Fla. – The National Mango Board (NMB) hosted the Mango Food Safety Conference on March 6, 2013, at the McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, Texas. This conference focused on providing attendees with information about food safety guidelines and standards, areas of opportunity for the mango industry, a broader view of the field, and how food safety issues affect the food supply chain.
Providing high quality mangos that consumers will purchase again and again requires a commitment to safety and quality by each and every member of the mango industry. In continuing efforts to provide the U.S. consumer with a delicious, nutritious and safe product, the NMB commissioned a risk assessment of the supply chain to provide insight to the industry’s food safety protocols.
Food safety expert, Dr. Sergio Nieto-Montenegro of Hispanic Workforce Management, visited facilities in mango producing countries as well as receiving warehouses in the United States to identify areas for improvement. The goal of the assessment is to recognize and engage industry members to build upon existing food safety efforts and improve best practices.
During NMB’s Mango Food Safety Conference, Dr. Nieto-Montenegro shared his preliminary findings and recommendations for mango growing farms and packinghouses in Ecuador and Peru, and mango warehouses and distribution centers in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. As reported at the conference, Dr. Nieto-Montenegro’s preliminary findings have included recommendations for improving upon existing water usage and safety protocols, as well as employee guidelines such as the importance of hand washing protocols. The industry-wide assessment will continue throughout the year to include mango packinghouses and warehouses in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Haiti, as well as U.S. importing warehouses and distribution centers in McAllen, Texas, and Nogales, Ariz.
“The NMB has always encouraged its members to adhere to all U.S. food safety standards,” said NMB Executive Director William Watson. “Dr. Nieto-Montenegro’s work will help us build upon existing food safety standards and allow the mango industry to establish improved best practices for providing consumers with wholesome mangos they can confidently share with their family and friends.”
The NMB’s Mango Food Safety Conference created the opportunity to bring the latest food safety information to the industry. Approximately 65 industry members from each level of the supply chain attended the conference and acquired more knowledge on ways to increase food safety for the end consumer. This free information sharing event stimulated discussion between keynote speakers and the audience to improve mango quality.
For more information about the NMB’s mango food safety risk assessment or mango food safety efforts, please contact William Watson at 407-629-7318, ext. 101 or wwatson@mango.org.
Source: The National Mango Board