Food Protection Trends - September/October 2024 - 347

TABLE 2. Pre- and posttest correct response rate and change in knowledge by
Produce Safety Alliance grower training module
Module
1. Introduction to Produce Safety
2. Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
3. Soil Amendments
4. Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
5. Agricultural Water
6. Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
7. How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
a
No. of questions
5
2
4
4
3
3
4
Pretest % (no.)
of correct
response rates
70.3 (534/760)
96.1 (292/304)
75.0 (456/608)
61.8 (376/608)
61.8 (282/456)
58.3 (266/456)
50.2 (305/608)
Posttest % (no.)
of correct
response rates
82.9 (572/690)
97.5 (269/279)
85.9 (474/552)
73.9 (408/552)
81.6 (338/414)
80.7 (335/414)
71.7 (396/552)
Knowledge
change (%)
12.6a
1.4
10.9
12.1
19.8
22.3
21.6
Percentages in bold indicate that the change in knowledge was significant (P ≤ 0.05) by a binomial generalized regression with a χ2
and a Bonferroni correction.
correct response rate for module 1 (Introduction to Produce
Safety), module 2 (Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training),
and module 3 (Soil Amendments) (6, 9). This suggests
a consistent pattern across different geographical regions
and years, indicating that individuals had a greater baseline
understanding of these specific modules before and after
undergoing PSA training. The substantial level of preexisting
knowledge on these broad topics could be linked to the
availability of educational resources, along with growers'
involvement in supplementary food safety programs (such as
good agricultural practices and National Organic Program) or
third-party audits. Furthermore, in the present study, module
7 (How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan) exhibited the
lowest pre- and posttest correct response rate, while module
6 (Postharvest Handling and Sanitation) had the second
lowest pretest and the third lowest posttest correct response
rate. This echoes the observations made by the North
Central Regional Center (6) and Southern Regional Center
(9), when modules 6 and 7 consistently showed the lowest
correct response rate on both pre- and posttests. Note that in
previous studies, as well as the current assessment, module
6 experienced the largest knowledge gain (2, 6, 9). This
indicates effectiveness in how the PSA training addressed the
complexities or difficulties inherent to Postharvest Handling
and Sanitation, enabling participants to substantially enhance
their grasp of the content.
Low overall posttest correct response rates for module
4 (Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use) are of
particular concern because incidents of animal intrusion
and practices on neighboring land have been identified as
contributing factors in past produce outbreaks (3, 5, 11-13).
For instance, during the traceback investigation of the
2020 multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked
to peaches, it was suggested that nearby animal operations,
including both poultry and cattle, were likely contributing
factors to the outbreak (11). Under the PSR, covered farms
must take appropriate measures to not only monitor fields
for the contamination of produce associated with likely
and foreseeable hazards from adjacent lands, domesticated
animals, and wildlife but also ensure corrective actions are
taken when necessary (10). Therefore, addressing the low
posttest correct response rates for module 4 is not only
crucial for ensuring that the Washington produce industry
complies with the PSR but is also essential for preventing
potential foodborne outbreaks.
As for the low posttest correct response rates associated
with module 7, this may be related to the fact that the PSA
Grower Training course has an entire module dedicated to
the development of a farm food safety plan, even though a
written food safety plan is not required under the PSR. A
written farm food safety plan becomes a document when
an operation keeps records and documentation on assessed
risks, practices to reduce those risks, and standard operating
procedures, as well as housing required records. Although
a farm food safety plan is not mandatory, maintaining one
helps keep produce safety documents organized and focused
and is beneficial for buyer requirements and third-party
audits.
Changes in knowledge by individual questions ranged
from −2.7 to 49.6% (Table 3). Approximately half (12
of 25) of the individual questions resulted in significant
knowledge gains between the pre- and posttest. Interestingly,
question 12 (Q12), addressing actions that should guide
risk management decisions, exhibited a higher pretest
correct response rate (134 of 152, 88.2%) compared with
the posttest (118 of 138, 85.5%); however, the pre- and
September/October Food Protection Trends 347
Food Protection Trends - September/October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - September/October 2024
