Working together in the leafy salads sector
Food safety is at its strongest when the whole supply chain works together. Over the past two years, collaboration across the salads industry has played a vital role in shaping new standards designed to strengthen food safety, build confidence, and deliver consistent standards for growers and customers alike.
A shared response to a shared challenge
Following the 2024 outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) linked to supermarket sandwiches, the salads sector came together with renewed focus on food safety. In response, industry partners have worked collectively with Red Tractor to strengthen practices at grower level, including enhanced food safety training and a comprehensive review of existing guidance.
This work was informed by expertise and insight from across the supply chain, growers, retailers, trade bodies and technical specialists ensuring that lessons learned translated into practical improvements on farm.
Industry-led momentum for change
With strong retailer backing for the updated Microbiological Guidance for Growers (MGG), the British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA) and the Chilled Foods Association (CFA) approached Red Tractor in early 2025. Their request was clear: develop a dedicated leafy salads module that could provide a consistent, credible and industry-wide approach to food safety assurance.
The shared ambition behind this was to:
- Raise the bar on food safety at grower level
- Demonstrate robust, trusted standards to customers
- Reduce the need for multiple, individual customer audits
Developing standards, together
In response, and led by Barbara Bray MBE, Red Tractor brought together a specialist working group made up of respected experts from across the supply chain. This collaborative group combined scientific expertise with direct grower experience to develop a set of proposed standards that are:
- Science-based, reflecting the latest evidence and guidance
- Practical and achievable for growers
- Grounded in real farming and growing conditions
Speaking at the recent BLSA food safety workshop, Red Tractor Fresh Produce Technical Manager Sam Trevey said, “This work demonstrates the power of industry collaboration. By aligning expertise and sharing responsibility across the supply chain, we’re proposing standards that balance robust food safety with real-world practicality, shaped by those who know the sector best.”
Members voices matter
The Red Tractor Fresh Produce Technical Advisory Committee is currently consulting on enhanced food safety standards for leafy salads growers.
The draft standards are now open for wider feedback, and further grower input will help us to shape the final outcome. Grower insights will help ensure the standards are practical, proportionate and work on farm.
Please submit feedback by Friday 13 February 2026.