Claim · model-written summary
Higher contamination levels or prevalences were observed between May and November.
- Taxon
- lettuce
Lactuca sativat0 - Outcome
- contamination levels or prevalencese7
- Direction
- highere7
- Setting
- between May and Novembere7
Not reportedMaterialGeneCompoundOrgan / stageInteractorInteractor roleSecond interactorSecond interactor roleTreatmentComparatorValueQualifier
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Longitudinal bacterial survey of lettuce production in Belgium”
e7“Particularly, between May and November, there must be a higher state of awareness to prevent contamination of the produce by contaminated water as higher contamination levels or prevalences were observed”
Title
Longitudinal bacterial survey of lettuce production in Belgium
Kevin Holvoet; Imca Sampers; Liesbeth Jacxsens; et al. Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) 2013
Other claims from this paper (15)
- Observation No Salmonella or PCR VTEC signal was detected in lettuce.
- Observation One of 92 soil samples contained Salmonella spp.
- Observation Five of 92 soil samples gave PCR positives for VTEC virulence factors (vt1 or vt2 and eae).
- Observation Campylobacter prevalence in lettuce was low, 9.0 % (n = 8/88).
- Observation E. coli was present on a regular basis in water samples, with 59.2% of samples above 1 cfu/100 ml.
- Observation Pathogens were occasionally detected in water samples (25%, n = 30/120), in particular Campylobacter.
- Association Pathogens and indicator bacteria were more present in months with higher temperature, showing a seasonal effect.
- Observation The environmental samples (soil, soil seedling and water), and specifically water, are identified as risk factors.
- Observation Farms differed in water source and water control, personnel turnover and the fertilizer program.
- Observation The farms operated quite similarly for most FSMS indicators.
- Observation No farm had a microbiological sampling plan.
- Observation The farms had no verification or documentation system for the microbiology.
- Observation The farms complied with sector requirements but made no additional efforts.
- Observation Farmers showed much more precaution and knowledge for pesticides and pesticide residues than for microbiology.
- Recommendation Farmer knowledge and awareness about food safety and good agricultural practices in lettuce production needs to improve.