Support Risk-Based Prevention Systems to Address Enteric Viruses
Background
Frozen berries are part of a healthy diet and have a long history of safe consumption in the United States. At the same time, the global supply chain is complex, and berries can be sourced from regions that are endemic for hepatitis A and norovirus.
Ensuring food safety is the highest priority for AFFI and its members, and the frozen fruit industry remains committed to producing safe foods that protect public health. AFFI, working collaboratively with the frozen berry industry, food safety experts, academic researchers, and public health partners, has developed science-based best practice guidance and risk assessment tools to prevent enteric virus contamination during berry growing, harvesting, packing, and freezing operations.
In 2025, FDA released a Prevention Strategy for the Control of Enteric Viruses in Berries. This Prevention Strategy can be strengthened with additional guidance and risk management and traceability tools to address routes of entry by the pathogen, water management, sewage and waste management, and worker hygiene practices. The berry industry welcomes collaboration with FDA to leverage AFFI’s best practice tools to accelerate adoption of the Prevention Strategy across the supply chain and amplify the Prevention Strategy.
The Solution
Congress should include legislative language in the FY2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that directs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to further develop the Prevention Strategy for the Control of Enteric Viruses in Berries using industry-relevant tools on supply chain risk management and traceability.