Additional Resources: Toxoplasmosis in Cats https://foodsafetyclearinghouse.org/sites/default/files/resource/toxo_risks_0.pdf Domesticated Animals Factsheet https://shop.iastate.edu/extension/farm-environment/farm-and-business-management/food-safety/fs56.html Service Animals https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1310/ Balancing Food Safety and Domesticated Animals on Produce Farms https://agriculture.vermont.gov/sites/agriculture/files/documents/Produce_Program/VAAFM%20Domesticated%20A

This resource is meant to give you a quick snapshot of the options, and some caveats, of using animals within your operation. It's meant to get you thinking! Whereas us Technicians are here to help you navigate the nuances and risks! If you have any questions, need to brainstorm, or flush out some ideas, or need to explore more options, please reach out to your local technician. Everything we discuss if free, voluntary, and confidential.

Continue reading to determine what steps you can take to reduce the risk of contaminating produce when working with animals on the farm. Background: The FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR) does not prohibit animals from being on or near produce farms. Instead, it requires farms to minimize the risk of contamination of covered produce from both domesticated and wild animals. It is important to understand that animals are a food safety concern because animals can carry human pathoge