Interactive site aids growers with food safety regulations

PrimusLabs.com News! Interactive site aids growers with food safety regulations Published in The Packer By Todd Foltz - Staff Writer
SANTA MARIA, Calif - Buyers and suppliers looking for a way to assure the quality of their produce are getting a little help from Primus Laboratories. On Oct. 16, the food safety consultant launched an online, interactive program that helps growers and shippers comply with American produce safety regulations. It's called the Food Safety Manual Development Program, and it's free, said Robert Stovicek, president of Primus. Timed to coincide with the beginning of the Central American and South American production season, the program is in Spanish. An English language version will be available by the first quarter of 1999, said Vic Safranek, general manager. Other language versions, including Portuguese, are planned. "All of the forms are in Spanish first because Latin American countries are where many of the food safety concerns are coming from," Safranek said.
Logging On
The manual development program can be reached by logging onto the company's Web site at www.primuslabs.com and filling out a registration form. By answering a series of yes-or-no and short answer questions, users can develop customized safety manuals. Users can then edit and print out the manuals. The program will help users set up procedures to meet the Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines for packing sheds and cooling facilities, General Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Good Agricultural Practices for the field.
Points of risk
It also will help users identify potential points of risk in their packing operations and control their procedures efficiently. Moreover, the program will help users develop a customized product recall program and an employee education outline. "We have experience in food safety programs," said Juan Muniz, director of operations in Latin America. "We wanted to find a way to deliver the information to the growers so that they could work with it." And the company Web site seemed perfect. Safranek said Primus executives decided to put the manual development program on the company's Web site for logistical reason. Growers and shippers tend to be so spread out that delivering the information in person could be costly, both in time and money. Now that Latin America has Internet access, the information can be obtained from Primus' Web site, he said. "If anyone needs further assistance, we're always available," he said.

PrimusLabs.com News!

Interactive site aids growers with food safety regulations
Published in The Packer By Todd Foltz - Staff Writer

SANTA MARIA, Calif - Buyers and suppliers looking for a way to assure the quality of their produce are getting a little help from Primus Laboratories.

On Oct. 16, the food safety consultant launched an online, interactive program that helps growers and shippers comply with American produce safety regulations. It's called the Food Safety Manual Development Program, and it's free, said Robert Stovicek, president of Primus.

Timed to coincide with the beginning of the Central American and South American production season, the program is in Spanish. An English language version will be available by the first quarter of 1999, said Vic Safranek, general manager. Other language versions, including Portuguese, are planned.

"All of the forms are in Spanish first because Latin American countries are where many of the food safety concerns are coming from," Safranek said.

Logging On

The manual development program can be reached by logging onto the company's Web site at www.primuslabs.com and filling out a registration form.

By answering a series of yes-or-no and short answer questions, users can develop customized safety manuals. Users can then edit and print out the manuals.

The program will help users set up procedures to meet the Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines for packing sheds and cooling facilities, General Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Good Agricultural Practices for the field.

Points of risk

It also will help users identify potential points of risk in their packing operations and control their procedures efficiently. Moreover, the program will help users develop a customized product recall program and an employee education outline.

"We have experience in food safety programs," said Juan Muniz, director of operations in Latin America. "We wanted to find a way to deliver the information to the growers so that they could work with it."

And the company Web site seemed perfect.

Safranek said Primus executives decided to put the manual development program on the company's Web site for logistical reason. Growers and shippers tend to be so spread out that delivering the information in person could be costly, both in time and money. Now that Latin America has Internet access, the information can be obtained from Primus' Web site, he said.

"If anyone needs further assistance, we're always available," he said.

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