Image source:
Elaine D. Berry et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2015; 81: 1101-1110
© American Society for Microbiology

Food Safety News: Current guidelines for the minimum distance between cattle feed lots and fresh produce growing fields are likely inadequate to ensure leafy greens are not contaminated with E. coli from dust and manure. “Additional research is needed to determine safe set-back distances between cattle feedlots and crop production that will reduce fresh produce contamination,” according to scientists who conducted a two-year study.

A two-year study at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center showed leafy greens planted well past the recommended minimum safety distance from a cattle feedlot were contaminated with E. coli from the dust and manure. Food safety guidelines currently call for a minimum distance of 120 meters, about 394 feet, but the researchers found E. coli contamination on leafy greens growing 180 meters (590 feet) away from a cattle feed lot.

Read the full story at Food Safety News

Read the full abstract at Applied and Environmental Microbiology