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Smith JC, Varriano S, Roach K, Snipes Z, Dawson JL, Shealy J, Dunn LL, Snyder WE, Shariat NW. Prevalence and molecular characterization of Salmonella isolated from wild birds in fresh produce environments. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1272916. [PMID: 38029194 PMCID: PMC10662084 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1272916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild birds pose a difficult food safety risk to manage because they can avoid traditional wildlife mitigation strategies, such as fences. Birds often use agricultural fields and structures as foraging and nesting areas, which can lead to defecation on crops and subsequent transfer of foodborne pathogens. To assess the food safety risk associated with these events, wild bird feces were collected from produce fields across the southeastern United States during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. In total 773 fecal samples were collected from 45 farms across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and 2.1% (n = 16) of samples were Salmonella-positive. Importantly, 75% of Salmonella were isolated from moist feces, showing reduced Salmonella viability when feces dry out. 16S microbiome analysis showed that presence of culturable Salmonella in moist feces correlated to a higher proportion of the Enterobacteriaceae family. From the Salmonella-positive samples, 62.5% (10/16) contained multi-serovar Salmonella populations. Overall, 13 serovars were detected, including six most commonly attributed to human illness (Enteriditis, Newport, Typhimurium, Infantis, Saintpaul, and Muenchen). PCR screening identified an additional 59 Salmonella-positive fecal samples, which were distributed across moist (n = 44) and dried feces (n = 15). On-farm point counts and molecular identification from fecal samples identified 57 bird species, including for 10 Salmonella-positive fecal samples. Overall, there was a low prevalence of Salmonella in fecal samples, especially in dried feces, and we found no evidence of Salmonella transmission to proximal foliage or produce. Fecal samples collected in farms close together shared highly related isolates by whole genome sequencing and also had highly similar Salmonella populations with comparable relative frequencies of the same serovars, suggesting the birds acquired Salmonella from a common source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared C. Smith
- Departments of Population Health and Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Sofia Varriano
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Kerrie Roach
- Department of Plant Industry, Clemson University Extension, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Zach Snipes
- Department of Plant Industry, Clemson University Extension, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Joshua L. Dawson
- Fort Valley State University Extension, Fort Valley, GA, United States
| | - Justin Shealy
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia Extension, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Laurel L. Dunn
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, United States
| | - William E. Snyder
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Nikki W. Shariat
- Departments of Population Health and Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, United States
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Okpala COR, Korzeniowska M. Understanding the Relevance of Quality Management in Agro-food Product Industry: From Ethical Considerations to Assuring Food Hygiene Quality Safety Standards and Its Associated Processes. FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2021.1938600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Odilichukwu R. Okpala
- Department of Functional Food Products Development, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Korzeniowska
- Department of Functional Food Products Development, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
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Chen H, Kinchla AJ, Richard N, Shaw A, Feng Y. Produce Growers' On-Farm Food Safety Education: A Review. J Food Prot 2021; 84:704-716. [PMID: 33270894 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-20-320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT From planting to distribution, fresh produce can be contaminated by humans, water, animals, soil, equipment, and the environment. Produce growers play an essential role in managing and minimizing on-farm food safety risks. Because of an increase in public awareness about produce safety, farmer food safety education has become an important research and extension topic. This review article summarizes findings by researchers who have evaluated produce growers' food safety knowledge and attitudes and the effectiveness of food safety educational programs for growers. A search of on-line databases, journal archives, conference abstracts, and reference lists of relevant studies was conducted to locate peer-reviewed articles on produce growers' food safety knowledge and behavioral changes. Study selection criteria included publications in English, publication between 2000 and 2019, and a focus on one of six topics: handling of agricultural water, soil amendments, domesticated animal and wildlife management, worker health and hygiene, food safety plans and record-keeping, and cleaning and sanitation. Forty-three published articles were included in the analysis. Handling of agricultural water and soil amendments were the two topics least understood by growers, whereas worker health and hygiene were the best understood. Food safety educational interventions were evaluated in 13 studies, and most studies used in-person workshops and self-reported pre- and postintervention knowledge assessments. Most reported increased knowledge, some reported improved attitudes and perceived behavioral control, and only four reported behavioral changes. Because of small sample sizes, many studies did not include a statistical analysis of the differences between pre- and postintervention survey results. This review article provides insights and guidance for the development of food safety education for produce growers. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Chen
- Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3012-1930 [Y.F.])
| | - Amanda J Kinchla
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
| | - Nicole Richard
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
| | - Angela Shaw
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Yaohua Feng
- Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3012-1930 [Y.F.])
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Macori G, Gilardi G, Bellio A, Bianchi DM, Gallina S, Vitale N, Gullino ML, Decastelli L. Microbiological Parameters in the Primary Production of Berries: A Pilot Study. Foods 2018; 7:E105. [PMID: 29976895 PMCID: PMC6069088 DOI: 10.3390/foods7070105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary production of fresh soft fruits was considered to be a suspected critical point for the contamination of frozen berries that were responsible for the large 2013⁻2014 Hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak in Europe. In this study, an Italian berries’ production area was studied for its agro-technical characteristics, and the fresh fruits were analyzed for the presence of enteric viruses (HAV and Norovirus (NoV) genogroup I and genogroup II (GGI and GGII)), the enumeration of hygienic quality parameters, and the prevalence of bacterial pathogens. A total of 50 producers were sampled, who specialized in the exclusive or shared cultivation of berries. Escherichia coli was detected in two blackberry samples, whereas HAV and Norovirus were not detected. The samples were negative for Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The farms’ attributes were not associated with positive samples, apart from the presence of E. coli and the aerobic mesophilic bacteria for blackberry that were statistically correlated. In blueberries, the high aerobic mesophilic count could likely be associated with the resistance of the outer layer to handling. However, the two pathogens (Salmonella spp. and STEC) and the targeted viruses (HAV, NoV GGI and GGII) were not detected, highlighting the low risk of foodborne pathogens and viral contamination at the primary production stage of the berry food chain in the area considered in this pilot study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerrino Macori
- Food Control and Production Hygiene Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Gilardi
- Centre of Competence for Innovation in Agro-Environmental Field, Agroinnova, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
| | - Alberto Bellio
- Food Control and Production Hygiene Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Daniela Manila Bianchi
- Food Control and Production Hygiene Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Silvia Gallina
- Food Control and Production Hygiene Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
| | - Maria Lodovica Gullino
- Centre of Competence for Innovation in Agro-Environmental Field, Agroinnova, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
| | - Lucia Decastelli
- Food Control and Production Hygiene Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy.
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Sorensen JA, Tinc PJ, Dalton D, Scott EE, Jenkins PL. A Comparison of Interventional Approaches for Increasing Power Take-off Shielding on New York Farms. J Agromedicine 2017; 22:251-258. [DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2017.1318726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Sorensen
- The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Bassett Healthcare Network, Fly Creek, New York, USA
| | - Pamela J. Tinc
- The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Bassett Healthcare Network, Fly Creek, New York, USA
| | - Deb Dalton
- The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Bassett Healthcare Network, Fly Creek, New York, USA
| | - Erika E. Scott
- The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Bassett Healthcare Network, Fly Creek, New York, USA
| | - Paul L. Jenkins
- The Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York, USA
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