Foodborne outbreaks of microbial infection from fresh produce in Europe and North America: a systematic review of data from this millennium

This study focuses on foodborne outbreaks of microbial infection associated with fresh produce in Europe and North America from this millennium. A total of 277 outbreaks with 44 524 individual cases were identified. Foodborne pathogens associated with the most outbreak frequency include Cryptosporidium (20.5%) in Europe and Salmonella (52.2%) in North America although Norovirus (54.3%) and Salmonella (61.3%) were associated with the number of cases in Europe and North America, respectively. Vegetables were the most implicated fresh produce category with outbreak frequencies of 34.1% in Europe and 47.4% in North America. Increased consumption of fresh produce in Europe and North America, as measures to improve diets, correlates with the increased fresh produce-related outbreaks of microbial infection. This systematic review suggests the need for more rapid methodologies for traceback investigations in order to determine trends and epicentres of foodborne infections related to fresh produce.

Automated summary

This study focuses on foodborne outbreaks associated with fresh produce in Europe and North America, identifying Cryptosporidium and Salmonella as the main pathogens. Vegetables are the most implicated fresh produce category. Increased consumption of fresh produce correlates with the increased outbreaks of microbial infection.