International Specialty Supply

Supplying Sprout Companies Throughout the World

ISS

820 East 20th Street

Cookeville, TN 38501 USA

931 526 1106

Bob@sproutnet.com

中文版

En español

Guilty by Association

SproutNet

International Specialty Supply

February 19, 2002

Dear Bob

"When there is a sprout outbreak all growers who have the same lot number are involved in the recall of seed and sprouts.  We handle ALL our seed as though it is contaminated.  We sanitize it using the method recommended by the FDA and we post test it using the FDA recommended method.  We have never had an outbreak yet I am concerned that we could be guilty by association.  Is there anything we can do to disassociate ourselves from an outbreak if a grower with the same seed lot is not as conscientious as we are?"

Dear Grower

A key principle of HACCP is to insure that the ingredients that go into the finished product are of the highest quality, and to have documentation on file that verifies the food safety and quality requirements.  

But there is more to it than just seed sanitizing and post testing.  Purchasing seed can be likened to flying on a plane.  You need to feel confident the passengers you share the plane with are safe and the pilot knows how to fly.  If the plane goes down, no matter whose fault, you become part of the carnage - regardless of how good your seat belt is.

When you "share" a seed lot with other growers, either knowingly or unknowingly, you are risking that they will not have an outbreak either.  If they do, you could find the local evening news warning consumers to avoid your sprouts grown from the same lot. 

As a seed supplier, part of ISS' own risk reduction plan includes selling to growers it feels are some of the safest in the industry.  We go to them because it reduces our risk.  They come to us because:  

  They want and need the kind of testing and documentation only ISS provides.

  ISS rejects a substantial amount of the seed lots it samples for food safety reasons.  Seed is usually rejected because of damage, droppings, urine or fecal contamination.  One lot was rejected because of the presence of E.coli 0157:H7.  

  ISS informs them about its seed safety procedures and signs off on every step it does to each lot of seed.

  ISS helps educate them and helps them set up their own HACCP programs.

  ISS has a seed HACCP program in place and shares it with them.  Until recently, you could not get a college degree in HACCP.  ISS' HACCP manager, who is a registered nurse, returned to college to get her degree in HACCP.

  Sungarden Sprouts, a division of ISS has been a commercial sprout producer for 23 years.  It uses ISS seed also.  

  They would rather "share" their seed lots with like minded growers.

It's all a matter of risk reduction