The European Food Safety Authority Panel on Biological Hazards (EFSA BIOHAZ) recently produced a report on the microbiological hazards associated with water used in postharvest handling and processing of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
A Center for Produce Safety-funded study is working to characterize the physiological changes that occur in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) bacteria that is present on romaine lettuce during postharvest cooling and refrigerated transport to processors, which could affect the pathogen’s virulence and detectability characteristics. The end goal of the research is to develop an easily accessible online tool for industry that identifies practices to mitigate the risks of STEC transmission via romaine lettuce.
Sanitation with produce doesn’t just stop once the plants have been harvested. There is a procedure that ideally must be followed, before the plants arrive in the hands of the consumer.
