Everyone's first choice:
Food safety

- A priority for all

- Demonstrating your due diligence

Food Safety: A priority for growers

The recent STEC E. coli outbreak in pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, sub and rolls is a stark reminder of the critical importance of food safety standards in safeguarding consumers.

For Red Tractor, food safety is paramount. It was a driving force behind the establishment of Red Tractor in the 1990s, a time when food safety scares posed significant threats to public health and the UK's food and farming industries.

Red Tractor's Fresh Produce standards are meticulously co-developed with industry experts, government bodies, and scientists. This collaborative approach ensures that all farm inputs and supply chain processes assured or licensed by Red Tractor significantly reduce the risk of contamination.

As a testament to Red Tractor's rigorous approach to food safety assurance, the FSA recognises Red Tractor farm certification granting our members earned recognition and reducing the frequency of FSA inspections, thanks to the agency's trust in Red Tractor's comprehensive assessment regime.

For any inquiries regarding Red Tractor's Fresh Produce standards, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at memberhelp@redtractor.org.uk.

Your commitment to maintaining high food safety standards is crucial in protecting consumers and upholding the integrity of the UK's fresh produce industry.

If farmers apply manure to a field, they must wait at least a year before planting crops like lettuce and are required to test the irrigation water for E.coli.

For growers, if they are irrigating a crop, they should be comfortable drinking that water themselves. It must meet an acceptable standard, and that's where Red Tractor standards are crucial. These standards ensure food safety, helping to guarantee that consumers can trust the quality and safety of the produce they purchase.

Dr. Jim Monaghan, Professor of Crop Science, Harper Adams University

Red Tractor - giving “invaluable peace of mind”

Meet Veryan Bliss, a seasoned expert in the fresh produce industry. In her video, she dives into the role of Red Tractor in ensuring food safety and good farming practices.

Here’s a quick rundown: Red Tractor is much more than simply a stamp of approval for consumers; it means farms have been thoroughly checked to meet high standards giving confidence to buyers that the suppliers are also meeting relevant legislation.

Plus if issues arise, such as contamination, operating in compliance with the Red Tractor standards means it is much easier to find the source of the problem.

The requirement to have policies and procedures means that suppliers and growers are able to show, should they be subject to a legal challenge, that they have done their due diligence every step of the way.

Make sure you watch the video to hear why Red Tractor provides value for growers and the supply chain