Fresh fruit and vegetables as vehicles for the transmission of human pathogens

Abstract

SummaryMuch research into food-borne human pathogens has focused on transmission from foods of animal origin. However, recent investigations have identified fruits and vegetables are the source of many disease outbreaks. Now believed to be a much larger contributor to produce-associated outbreaks than previously reported, norovirus outbreaks are commonly caused by contamination of foods from hands of infected workers. Although infections with Shiga toxinproducing E. coli O157 have been linked to beef more often than to any other food product, severe outbreaks have been traced to consumption of contaminated radish sprouts and pre-packaged spinach. Similarly, while infections with Salmonella have mainly been linked to consumption of foods of animal origin, many outbreaks have been traced to contaminated fresh produce. E. coli O157 binds to lettuce leaves by alternative mechanisms involving the filamentous type III secretions system, flagella and the pilus curli. Association of Salmonella with fresh produce appears to be serovar-specific involving flagella, curli, cellulose, and O antigen capsule. A better understanding of plant, microbiological, environmental, processing and food handling factors that facilitate contamination will allow development of evidence-based policies, procedures and technologies aimed at reducing the risk of contamination of fresh produce.

Antibiotic resistance genes in manure-amended soil and vegetables at harvest

“…Therefore, antibiotic resistance could be different between bulk and rhizosphere microbial communities. More importantly, the enrichment of ARGs in manure-amended soil can potentially disseminate resistance to vegetables, particularly those are eaten raw or subjected to minimal processing, which representing an important vehicle for ARGs transmission into human and posing potential threat to human health [11,16,17].…”

Detection of intestinal parasites on field-grown strawberries in the Federal District of Brazil

“…Amoebae remained on the fruit surface after the fi rst washing was complete, suggesting that they were strongly adhered. The mechanisms of amoebae adhesion to strawberries and other fruits and vegetables should be analyzed in future studies 1 . Balantidium coli is transmitted by contact with pigs at the locations where they are bred and in slaughterhouses.…”

“…Evaluating the pathogen load of fresh produce is of great importance for public health because it indicates the hygienic conditions during production, storage, transport, and handling 1 .…”

Food safety issues in fresh produce: Bacterial pathogens, viruses and pesticide residues indicated as major concerns by stakeholders in the fresh produce chain

“…Despite the beneficial health effects of fresh produce, there is a growing awareness concerning its microbial and chemical food safety (Lynch, Tauxe, V, & Hedberg, 2009;Strawn, Schneider, & Danyluk, 2011). Diseases linked to the sporadic presence of microbial hazards such as Salmonella spp., verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) and norovirus (NoV) increasingly support this allegation (Sivapalasingam, Friedman, Cohen, & Tauxe, 2004;FAO/WHO, 2008;Berger et al, 2010). In the EU in 2009 and 2010, respectively 4.4% and 10% of the foodborne verified outbreaks were linked with the consumption of vegetables, fruits, berries, juices (and products thereof) (EFSA/ECDC, 2012).…”