Tuesday, 14 February 2023 14:55

Food safety concerns in wake of flooding

Written by  Jessica Marshall
Vegetable growers in Pukekohe were hit hard by the recent flooding. Onions, spinach, broccoli and carrots are the crops hardest hit as flood water swamped paddocks like this one in Pukekohe. Vegetable growers in Pukekohe were hit hard by the recent flooding. Onions, spinach, broccoli and carrots are the crops hardest hit as flood water swamped paddocks like this one in Pukekohe.

In the aftermath of recent flooding, which struck Auckland, the Coromandel, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty late last month, food safety concerns have been raised.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) says the flooding has created significant food safety risks.

“The floodwaters that have inundated growers’ properties may have been contaminated by a variety of hazards, the sources of which may not be immediately apparent. These hazards are a food safety risk and can cause illness,” NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle told Rural News.

He says these hazards include sewage, animal excrement and leaks from home septic tanks, resulting in unsafe bacteria, viruses, and parasites; dead animals and decaying plants; chemical contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and petroleum products; and physical contaminants like glass and debris.

Arbuckle says NZFS’s advice is that if a farm has been flooded with potentially contaminated water, and not just pooling rainwater, the impacted fruit should not be harvested or consumed and should be destroyed.

“If the fruit or vegetable has not been directly affected by floodwaters, meaning that the edible parts of the crops have not been submerged by floodwaters or have not been in contact with splashing floodwater, growers should conduct a risk assessment to consider how the produce can be safely harvested and whether it is safe to be consumed,” he adds.

“Produce that has been damaged only by rain, and which has not come into contact with any floodwater, should be safe to consume.”

Meanwhile, Nick Story, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director of rural communities and farming support says financial support is available to those impacted by the floods. This includes the $200,000 announced by the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Communities at the beginning of the month.

“MPI, councils, other relevant government agencies, Māori primary sector and industry organisations are meeting regularly to discuss next steps.”

He says Rural Support Trusts in the impacted areas will take a lead role in coordinating assistance.

“As well as recovery coordination, the Rural Support Trust help serve communities with wellbeing support, including organising local events and arranging recovery facilitators who work oneto- one with farmers and growers,” Story told Rural News.

“We will continue to work closely with sector groups on-the-ground and assess conditions. If there is further need for help, then we will consider what further assistance government can provide.”

More like this

Food recall system at work

The New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has started issuing annual reports, a new initiative to share information on consumer-level recalls with the public.

Summit steers growers toward a safer food chain

Fresh produce growers need to consider safe food practices a necessary step in the cost of doing business, delegates at the recent International Fresh Produce Association Australia and New Zealand (IFPA A-NZ) second annual Food Safety Summit heard.

Don't contaminate your plate this summer

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is relaunching its Chicken Scene Investigators campaign this summer in an effort to keep Kiwis healthy as they enjoy the festive season.

Featured

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National Charity Auction.

Kiwifruit sector's big night out

The turmoil and challenges faced by the kiwifruit industry in the past 30 years were put to one side but not forgotten at a glitzy night for 400 kiwifruit growers and guests in Mt Maunganui recently.

National

Meat sector unity

Farmers are welcoming potential collaboration between the country's two major meat processors.

Machinery & Products

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

New F5 balers from McHale

Irish grassland machinery manufacturer McHale has unveiled the new four-model range of F5 fixed chamber balers.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Mixed legacy

OPINION: You're never as good as when you're dead, and with due respect to Theo Spierings' family, the Hound can't…

Dead in the water

OPINION: In a victory for common sense over virtue signalling, David Parker's National Policy Statement (NPS) work on freshwater is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter