□ Adopt and implement a food safety plan

First and foremost, farms implementing effective food safety plans are less likely to have an incident. If customers happen to get sick, a farm that can show that a food safety plan was effectively being implemented will be in a much better position to defend itself against any impending lawsuits or government enforcement actions.

□ Keep records of how food safety measures are being followed

The importance of documentation cannot be emphasized enough! Food safety standards, practices, and protocols that are being followed without the records to prove it won’t get a farmer very far if an incident occurs. Maintaining records and documentation can be tedious, but it’s absolutely essential to limiting legal liability risks.

□ Check insurance policies for food safety incident coverage and update insurance policies as circumstances change

Having liability insurance is critical in protecting a farm should it become entangled in a foodborne illness lawsuit. If an incident
occurs, the decision to sue is not up to the customers. It’s up to third- party insurance companies who are financially motivated to place the burden of damages elsewhere, regardless of whether the farmer is at fault. If you have insurance coverage, your insurance company will defend your case and pay out any damages up to your policy limit.

□ GAP: Explore the option of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, learn about GAP standards, and commit to incorporating
them when feasible

Farmers who are GAP certified, or at least have evidence of following certain GAP standards where feasible, will have a stronger defense if they were to get wrangled into a complex foodborne illness lawsuit. That’s because as more farmers become GAP certified, or at least follow GAP standards, the standard of care that a farmer will be held to might increase. In other words, courts might require GAP standards when determining whether the farmer is at fault..

□ Educate customers about food safety, including adding storage and preparation instructions and “best by” dates for high-risk products

Farmers can help mitigate their damages in a foodborne illness lawsuit, and, better yet, prevent anyone from getting sick in the first place, if they help educate their customers on how to properly store and prepare the foods they sell. This can be as simple as putting basic instruction notes in CSA boxes, posting signs near bulk bins or the scale and till at farm stands and farmers’ markets, posting food safety information on their website, and attaching handling and storage instruction fact sheets to delivery invoices for wholesalers.

□ Thoroughly read sales contracts and draft or negotiate terms that set achievable production standards

Contract breach—or violating the contract terms—is another way farmers may end up with legal consequences from a food safety incident. Many sales agreements obligate farmers to adhere to specific food safety practices or standards—such as GAP certification, quality standards, and so on. When bad things happen everyone along the supply chain starts looking around for ways to eliminate or reduce their damages. A grocery store buyer—or, more likely, their insurance company—might take a look at the sales contract to find terms that the farmer wasn’t following. Thoroughly read all sales contracts to be sure you understand your obligations. Agree only to terms you can follow through with; otherwise, try to negotiate different, achievable terms.

□ Negotiate sales contracts that limit indemnification and/ or check the farm’s insurance policy to see if it provides coverage for indemnification

Indemnification is a legal concept or contract term that basically means if Person A does something that harms Person B, Person A will pay Person B back for their damages. In other words, if a farmer allegedly sells a contaminated product to a grocery store that results in lost sales, tainted reputation, or even lawsuits, the farmer would be on the hook for these damages. Indemnification can pile up fast and quickly put a farmer out of business. Fortunately, many insurance policies will cover liability incurred by indemnification. Be sure to either limit the indemnification terms in your sales contracts or seek insurance coverage for the precise types of indemnification you agree to.

□ Implement product tracking and traceability

When a food safety incident occurs, one of the primary ways to control the outbreak and mitigate damages is to recall all the
potentially affected products. Naturally, this requires some form of a tracking and traceability system. The tracking should be precise enough to order as narrow a recall as necessary.

□ Explore recall insurance options

Insurance is sometimes available to protect against the expense of a recall. Finding such a policy may take some time. The reality is that recall coverage may only be available as part of a commercial liability policy. It’s worth asking your insurance agent what options are available to you.

□ Learn about and follow all product-specific state and local food code regulations and adulteration laws

All states have food safety laws that generally prohibit the selling of “adulterated” foods. In addition, state and local food code regulations include many product-specific requirements, particularly when it comes to processed and value-added products. If these rules are not followed, it opens the door to government enforcement action. This risk is always present, but when a food safety incident occurs, the motivation to investigate increases. Farms violating adulteration laws or the food safety code may be fined and have their license revoked. In some states, repeated and willful violations of the rules can even result in a criminal prosecution. Food safety regulations are not something to mess around with.

□ FSMA: Find out whether the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules apply, learn about FSMA standards and commit to incorporating
them when required or feasible, and keep records showing how you’re following the standards

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Controls Rule give the FDA broad new powers to prevent food safety problems and respond to food safety issues on farms. A number of full and partial exemptions to these rules exist for small farm operations, which are worth looking into. Farms that are required to comply with the FSMA rules could face fines and even criminal prosecution for failing to comply. While that’s a compelling reason to comply with these rules, it’s not the only reason. Regardless of whether the FSMA rules apply, a farmer can still face a personal injury lawsuit or an enforcement action under state or federal adulteration laws if a foodborne illness is linked to the farm. Farmers who are complying with FSMA standards, and have records to prove it, will have a stronger defense. That’s because courts might turn to FSMA standards when determining whether the farmer is at fault.

□ Schedule an annual review of the farm’s food safety strategy

Whatever is decided as a first step, farmers are well-advised to carve out some time each year to revisit, improve, and adapt their overall food safety strategy, including their food safety plan. What’s working and what’s not? Are systems and procedures being followed? Are adequate records being kept? How might documentation, recordkeeping, traceability, or other systems be improved? Have regulations changed or do new regulations apply? A call to your insurance agent should be part of this annual review. Are new or better policies available?