The Produce Contamination Problem

Karl R. Matthews teaches graduate courses in Microbial Food Safety and Food Biology Fundamentals. He has received several awards, including: Lifetime Achievement Award in Phyllosphere Biology, Amity University; Outstanding service – Online Mentor Award, American Society for Microbiology and Endel Karmas Award for Excellence in Teaching. He’s been an editorial board member on several journals and is currently the Editor of the Journal of Food Safety, a position he has occupied since 2004.

• Part 1: Produce Contamination: Scope and Sources 1. Scope of the Produce Contamination Problem2. Microbial Attachment and Persistence on Plants3. Identification of the Source of Contamination4. Manure Management5. Bioaerosol Contamination of Produce: Potential Issues from an Unexplored Contaminant Route6. Water Quality7. Disease Risks Posed by Wild Birds Associated with Agricultural Landscapes8. Produce Contamination by other WildlifePart 2: Commodities Associated with Major Outbreaks and Recalls 9. Leafy Vegetables10. Melons11. Microbiological Safety of Sprouted Seeds: Interventions and Regulations12. Salmonella and Tomatoes13. Tree Fruits and Nuts: Outbreaks, Contamination Sources, Prevention and Remediation14. Berry Contamination: Outbreaks and Contamination IssuesPart 3: Contamination Avoidance Pre and Postharvest15. Produce Contamination Issues in Mexico and Central America16. Regulatory issues in Europe Regarding Fresh Fruit and Vegetable SafetyPart 4: Technology for Reduction of Human Pathogens in Fresh Produce17. Disinfection of Contaminated Produce with Conventional Washing and Sanitizing Technology18. Advanced Technologies for Detection and Elimination of Bacterial Pathogens19. Conclusions and Recommendations

"...useful to growers, packers, fresh-cut processers and their suppliers, especially those organisations impacted by outbreaks of foodborne illness." --FST Magazine, November 2014