Posts from the "News: Microbial Contamination" category

FDA finds cattle are the most likely sources of E. coli leafy greens outbreaks

The US Food and Drug Administration has determined that cattle are most likely the sources of outbreak strains of E. coli O157:H7 associated with the 2019 and 2020 leafy greens outbreaks. The report notes “visual observations of the implicated leafy green growing fields suggested several plausible routes for contamination, including from cattle grazing on adjacent land and from animal intrusion, evidenced by the presence of signs of animal intrusion such as scat and large flocks of birds.”
The FDA encourages growers to consider adjacent land use practices, especially if used for animal production, and adopt risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Read the FDA report here.
[US: Food Safety News]: “Citing numerous E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to leafy greens, the FDA is telling the industry that it’s past time for a head-in-the-sand view of cattle operations uphill from lettuce fields.” More
To view the FPSC’s resource on animal intensive agriculture click here.