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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261392
Title: Biological approach for control of human pathogens on produce

Author
item FETT, WILLIAM - Former ARS Employee
item LIAO, CHING - Former ARS Employee
item Annous, Bassam

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conventional washing and sanitizing technologies are not sufficiently effective in reducing the populations of human pathogens naturally present on the surfaces of fresh produce. Since complete elimination of sources of contamination on the farm is not feasible, more effective intervention strategies are needed. Such strategies may include the use of biological-based interventions for suppressing the proliferation of pathogens or inhibiting the outgrowth of survivors after other chemical or physical interventions are applied. In this chapter, the authors review the factors critical for the development and application of effective biocontrol agents for reducing the contamination of fresh produce and seed sprouts with major foodborne pathogens including Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. A number of potential biocontrol candidates and studies of development of commercial biocontrol agents for use on fresh produce are also reviewed and discussed.