FDA's New Bible for Bug-Free Bagged Salads Drops
Published Date: 8/12/2026
Rule
Summary
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled "Guide to Minimize Biological Hazards in Ready-to-Eat Fresh-Cut Produce." This guidance supersedes a previous guidance, entitled "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables," issued in 2008, and is a final guidance to the draft guidance for industry entitled "Guide to Minimize Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-Cut Produce" issued in 2018. The guidance is intended to help manufacturers or processors of ready-to-eat fresh-cut produce that is not a low-moisture food comply with applicable requirements in our regulations on current good manufacturing practices for hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for human food.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Final Guidance Helps Fresh‑Cut Processors
If you manufacture or process ready-to-eat fresh-cut produce that is not a low‑moisture food, the FDA published a final guidance on August 12, 2026 to help you comply with current good manufacturing practices and hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls in 21 CFR part 117.
Scope Clarified by Water Activity Limit
The guidance explicitly applies only to ready-to-eat fresh-cut produce with a water activity above 0.85, so if your product's water activity is above 0.85 this guidance is intended to cover your operations.
New Examples For Process Controls Included
The final guidance adds another example of an antimicrobial substance that can be used as a process control, gives additional examples of supply‑chain programs to control pathogens, and offers more recommendations on time and temperature controls for fresh‑cut processing.
No New Paperwork Burden Noted
The guidance contains no new collections of information and refers to previously approved collections in 21 CFR part 117 under OMB control number 0910-0751, so it does not add new paperwork requirements.
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