Food Protection Trends - May/June 2022 - 186

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLE
Food Protection Trends, Vol 42, No. 3, p. 186-193
http://doi.org/10.4315/FPT-21-033
Copyright©
Olivia C. Haley,1 Yeqi Zhao,1 Joshua M. Maher,2,3
Valentina Trinetta,2,3
Manreet Bhullar,1,2
2022, International Association for Food Protection
2900 100th Street, Suite 309, Des Moines, IA 50322-3855, USA
Sara E. Gragg,2,3
and Londa Nwadike2,4,5*
1Dept. of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State University, Olathe, KS 66061, USA
2Food Science Institute, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
3Dept. of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
4Kansas State Research and Extension, Kansas State University, Olathe, KS 66061, USA
5Univeristy of Missouri Extension, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
Comparative Assessment of the Microbial
Quality of Agricultural Water on Kansas and
Missouri Fresh Produce Farms
ABSTRACT
In 2015, the U.S. States Food and Drug Administration
published the Produce Safety Rule (PSR), providing
guidance for growers to minimize food safety risks associated
with growing, harvesting, packing, and holding
fresh produce. To mitigate foodborne outbreaks attributed
to contaminated agricultural water, the PSR requires
growers to test their water for microbial contamination.
The increased production of fruits and vegetables in
Kansas and Missouri necessitates the investigation of
agricultural water quality in these states. This study
assessed and compared the prevalence of generic
Escherichia coli in agricultural water sources in both
states. A total of 426 agricultural water samples were
analyzed using the IDEXX Colilert with Quanti-Tray/2000
method. Although there were no statistically significant
differences in the prevalence of E. coli in agricultural
waters detected between the two states (P < 0.4023),
the average number of E. coli in surface water sources
(158.7 most probable number [MPN]/100 mL, n =
247) was statistically greater than that of groundwater
sources (20.4 MPN/100 mL, n = 179, P < 0.0001),
and seasonal effects were detected (P < 0.0001). These
results demonstrate the higher microbial risk of surface
water compared with groundwater in both states and
the need for continued grower education on safe water
management practices.
INTRODUCTION
Fresh produce is a major vehicle for foodborne pathogens
(11), because such food commodities are often consumed
raw and there is no kill step (30, 34). From 2009 to 2018,
there were 753 foodborne outbreaks associated with leafy
greens alone in the United States, resulting in 15,603 illnesses,
1,604 hospitalizations, and 151 deaths (4). In 1998, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a general
guide of voluntary on-farm practices to minimize microbial
safety hazards associated with fresh produce (36). However,
following numerous foodborne outbreaks attributed to
contaminated agricultural water in commodities such as
leafy greens (20, 27), tomatoes (1), and melons (42), water
management practices became a critical theme in produce
*Author for correspondence: Phone: +1 913.307.7391; Email: lnwadike@ksu.edu; Fax: +1 913.541.1488
186 Food Protection Trends May/June

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