Foodborne Illness: Farmers Should Harvest After Rain To Prevent Listeriosis Risk

Foodborne illnesses are more common than you think. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that an estimated 48 million foodborne illness cases occur every year in the United States, alone. From this number, about 128,000 Americans will be hospitalized, with close to 3,000 dying after consuming contaminated food.

New findings published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology examine produce farmers and risk of foodborne illness. To protect from any potential issues, it's advised to wait at least 24 hours after a rain or irrigating fields to harvest crops.

"We're looking at the science that helps governmental entities, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and private entities create policies that keep our food supply safe," said Daniel Weller, a doctoral student in the field of food science and the lead author of the new work, "Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated With an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in New York State Spinach Fields."

Rain or irrigation creates soil conditions that are typically more hospitable to Listeria monocytogenes, which can result in the human illness Listeriosis if ingested. Waiting to harvest crops reduces the risk of exposure to this pathogen, which could land on fresh produce and other factors that may ultimately play a part in the risk of field location to water and other landscape features that increase Listeria risk.

During the study, researchers tested the fields in a variety of locations throughout New York and found that after rains or irrigation, the chances of finding Listeria were about 25 times greater. However, after the fields dried at least 24 hours, the chances of detecting it dropped dramatically.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed rules allowing farmers to apply "wait periods" after application of irrigation water that would allow for "potentially dangerous microbes to die off," according to the FDA. Furthermore, with a combination of weather data, GIS technology and data driven information, technology helps farmers and producers alike take better gain in managing their food safely. 

As this marks the 4th of July weekend, make sure to play it safe when enjoying a hotdog or burger and preventing risk of foodborne illnesses, with some extra tips to make sure your holiday special and safe!

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