ABSTRACT
A brief account of plants and plant products that act as carriers of human enteric bacterial pathogens is given. Several fresh produce-associated epidemics of enteric illness caused by Salmonella enterica, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia spp., and Bacillus cereus have been highlighted. The role of animals, soil, water, and seed as sources of contamination is briefly discussed. The role of seed sprouts as a common fresh produce vehicle in causing food-borne illness is emphasized. The colonization of plants by human enteric bacterial pathogens due to attraction by plants resulting from nutrients in soil and root exudates is briefly discussed.
A brief account of Norovirus, cause of epidemic outbreaks of non-bacterial gastroenteritis around the world and 50% of all food-borne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States is given. The factors responsible for the frequent occurrence of produce-linked outbreaks during the last 5 decades are listed. The future strategies like breeding for resistance to colonization by enteric pathogens and use of biocontrol agents and phages are suggested.
