Guidance documents contain nonbinding recommendations

For information related to Produce Safety Standards under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), see FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety.

Guidance & Regulation 

Produce

• Temporary Policy During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Regarding the Qualified Exemption from the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (May 2020)
• FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting (June 2019)
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Evaluating Alternate Curricula for the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (June 2019)
• Enforcement Policy for Entities Growing, Harvesting, Packing, or Holding Hops, Wine Grapes, Pulse Crops, and Almonds (March 2019)
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (October 2018)
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Produce (October 2018)
• Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption: What You Need to Know About the FDA Regulation - Small Entity Compliance Guide (September 2017)
• Draft Guidance for Industry: Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for Sprout Operations (January 2017)
• Questions and Answers on FDA’s Proposed Commodity-Specific Guidances (CSGs)
• Draft Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (October 1998)
• Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables (February 2008)
• Microbiological Safety Evaluations and Recommendations on Sprouted Seed (May 1999)

Nuts

• Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product As An Ingredient (June 2009)
• Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Peanut-Derived Product as an Ingredient (March 2009)

Industry Guidance in Collaboration with FDA

• How to Work with FDA on Food Guidance Documents (January 2017)
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Storage, and Packing of Potatoes (June 2013) (PDF - 7325KB)
• Commodity-Specific Food Safety Guidelines for Cantaloupes and Netted Melons (March 29, 2013) (PDF - 4.77MB) 
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Processing Unit Operations of Fresh Culinary Herbs (January 2013) (PDF - 7.34MB)
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production, Harvest, Post-Harvest, and Valued-Added Unit Operations of Green Onions (February 2010)
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Melon Supply Chain, 1st Edition (November 2005)
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Fresh Tomato Supply Chain, 3^rd Edition (September 2018)
• Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Lettuce and Leafy Greens Supply Chain, 1st Edition (April 2006)

Related Resources

Action Plans 

• Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan
• Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan

FDA Letters to Industry

• Letter to Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association as a Conduit to Growers, Harvesters, Packers, and Distributors of the St. Lucie Area Concerning the Public Health Risk of Cyclospora cayetanensis (June 2021)
• Second Letter to Papaya Growers, Harvesters, Packers, Distributors, Exporters, Importers, and Retailers Concerning Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Tied to Papayas (June 2020)
• Letter to Papaya Growers, Harvesters, Packers, Distributors, Exporters, Importers, and Retailers Concerning Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Tied to Papayas (August 2019)
• Letter to State Agriculture Officials and the Leafy Greens Industry Concerning Environmental Assessment of Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Romaine Lettuce Implicated in a Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (November 2018)
• Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh Cantaloupe (November 2011)
• Letter to Firms that Grow, Harvest, Sort, Pack, or Ship Fresh Cilantro (March 2011)
• Letter to Seed Suppliers, Distributors, and Sprouters (May 2009)
• Letter To California Firms that Grow, Pack, Process, or Ship Fresh and Fresh-cut Lettuce (November 2005)
• Letter To Firms that Grow, Pack, or Ship Fresh Lettuce and Fresh Tomatoes (February 2004)

Additional letters can be found in the CFSAN Electronic Reading Room. 

Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce

• FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - Domestic Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-20) (August 2005)
• FDA Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce - FY 2000/2001 Field Assignment (January 2003)
• Survey of Domestic Fresh Produce: Interim Results as of June 30, 2001
• Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey Enforcement Plan (July 2000)
• Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey (August 2000)
• Constituent Briefing - Domestic Produce Sampling Survey (May 2000)

Survey of Imported Fresh Produce

• FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - Import Produce Assignment (DFP # 05-16) (March 2005)
• FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 2001 Field Assignment (DOEP # 01-07) (January 2001)
• FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce - FY 1999 Field Assignment (Survey Results (January 2001)
• FDA Survey of Imported Fresh Produce, November 1, 1999 (REVISED Imported Produce Assignment - FY 99 DOEP # 99-4)

Research

• Growers’ Understanding and Implementation of FDA’s GAPs Guidance (June 2010)