Irrigation water and contamination of fresh produce with bacterial foodborne pathogens

Numerous scientific articles have been published in recent years regarding irrigation water contamination of fresh produce that has led to industry recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks. Current research addresses these issues associated with irrigation water, treatments for inactivation of pathogens in irrigation water, pathogen and fecal indicator testing of irrigation waters, as well as subsurface irrigation and other means of mitigating the risk of fresh-produce contamination by irrigation water. The presesnt work highlights some of the most recent, multidisciplinary research around irrigation water and risk of bacterial pathogen contamination of produce and the various approaches to mitigate these risks. Proposed changes to the Microbial Water Quality Profile requirement outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act, Produce Safety Rule, is also discussed.

Automated summary

This article presents recent scientific research on irrigation water contamination of fresh produce and the corresponding treatments. It also highlights multidisciplinary studies on the risks associated with bacterial pathogen contamination of produce through irrigation water and various approaches to mitigate these risks. Additionally, proposed changes to the Microbial Water Quality Profile requirement outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act, Produce Safety Rule, are discussed.