Food Safety Practices Among Small-Scale Produce Growers Exempt from Federal Regulations: A Systematic Literature...

Area of Science:

• Food Safety Science
• Agricultural Policy
• Public Health

Background:

• Small-scale produce growers exempt from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) operate outside federal food safety regulations.
• Their food safety practices significantly impact public health, yet understanding of their voluntary adoption of PSR-aligned practices is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review self-reported food safety behaviors and willingness to adopt practices among FSMA-exempt small-scale growers.
• To examine the influence of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) on voluntary adoption of PSR-aligned practices.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Searched six databases (2013-2025) for cross-sectional studies on food safety behaviors and KAB in agricultural water (AW), cleaning and sanitation (CS), and storage and transport (ST).
• Seven studies met inclusion criteria from 133 records screened.

Main Results:

• Adoption of specific food safety practices was inconsistent across studies.
• Use of tested well water for AW ranged from 28.9% to 39.4%.
• 71-74% managed sanitation/packing in designated facilities (CS), and 64% managed transport sanitation (ST).

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists between awareness of food safety importance and consistent implementation of practices among FSMA-exempt growers.
• Targeted outreach, education, and affordable infrastructure solutions are crucial for supporting voluntary compliance.
• Further research is needed to understand KAB influences on practice adoption in this sector.