Items Tagged with 'leafy greens'

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses research on Listeria biofilms, including sanitizer efficacy and evolutionary insights, and on a persisting Escherichia coli strain in leafy greens. It also covers regulatory developments in the UK, Canada, and the UAE, as well as a potential U.S. ultra-processed foods (UPFs) definition.

A recent study sought to better understand the ability of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel surfaces to withstand common industry sanitizers, chlorine and PAA, using strains and temperature conditions relevant to the fresh leafy greens supply chain. 

An ongoing Center for Produce Safety-funded study is investigating the factors contributing to the persistence of a reoccurring, emerging, and persisting (REP) Escherichia coli O157:H7 subtype associated with leafy greens foodborne illness outbreaks, with the goal of developing a risk assessment tool for growers.

A 2024 European foodborne illness outbreak caused by a rare Salmonella serotype, linked to leafy greens grown near a buffalo farm, exposed gaps in biosecurity, surveillance, and data transparency across the agri-food system.

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses a new study that leverages a novel quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model that suggests that half of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to romaine lettuce are caused by contamination via untreated overhead irrigation water.

England saw a 26 percent rise in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections from 2023 to 2024, and non-O157 STEC cases tripled since 2019. These trends may be driven by one foodborne illness outbreak involving contaminated salad leaves.

Using a newly developed quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model, researchers have identified interventions along the U.S. romaine lettuce supply chain that would most effectively reduce E. coli contamination. The QMRA is publicly available for use.

According to internal FDA and CDC reports uncovered by NBC News and attorney Bill Marler, in November 2024, a multistate Escherichia coli outbreak linked to lettuce sickened 89 people, resulting in 36 hospitalizations and one death. Mention of the outbreak was not made public until the investigation was closed, nor were any details shared openly.

This article discusses the quantification of risk associated with changes in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) physiology during post-harvest pre-processing of leafy greens.

After Fruit Logistica 2025, Marzio Cazzamali, Global Industry Segment Manager for Fruit and Vegetables at Ammeraal Beltech, shared his reflections on the event, focusing on innovations in food-safe conveyor solutions.