Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain
Abstract Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157) in romaine lettuce remain an ongoing public health concern. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models are key tools for identifying control measures to mitigate foodborne diseases. Here, we introduce a comprehensive QMRA framework al...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01585-z |
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| author | Ece Bulut Sarah I. Murphy Laura K. Strawn Michelle D. Danyluk Martin Wiedmann Renata Ivanek |
| author_facet | Ece Bulut Sarah I. Murphy Laura K. Strawn Michelle D. Danyluk Martin Wiedmann Renata Ivanek |
| author_sort | Ece Bulut |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157) in romaine lettuce remain an ongoing public health concern. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models are key tools for identifying control measures to mitigate foodborne diseases. Here, we introduce a comprehensive QMRA framework along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce chain, including a novel preharvest difference equation model, to predict annual ECO157 illness cases in the United States and evaluate control strategies. We demonstrated the importance of managing irrigation-related contamination at preharvest to control illness cases. Wildlife intrusions pose lower health risk, followed by runoffs and biological soil amendments of animal origin. When preharvest contamination persists and combines with time–temperature abuses at postharvest, the predicted ECO157 illness cases rise considerably. We showed a broad range of interventions targeting both preharvest and postharvest stages can effectively improve the microbial safety of fresh-cut romaine. The comprehensive practices and interventions explored in this study will aid decision-makers in establishing/enhancing food safety best management practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-76c7bc073e5e4dd9a2fc79e2b4e28144 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-76c7bc073e5e4dd9a2fc79e2b4e281442025-08-20T04:03:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112410.1038/s41598-025-01585-zRisk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chainEce Bulut0Sarah I. Murphy1Laura K. Strawn2Michelle D. Danyluk3Martin Wiedmann4Renata Ivanek5Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Virginia TechFood Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of FloridaDepartment of Food Science, Cornell UniversityDepartment of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell UniversityAbstract Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157) in romaine lettuce remain an ongoing public health concern. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models are key tools for identifying control measures to mitigate foodborne diseases. Here, we introduce a comprehensive QMRA framework along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce chain, including a novel preharvest difference equation model, to predict annual ECO157 illness cases in the United States and evaluate control strategies. We demonstrated the importance of managing irrigation-related contamination at preharvest to control illness cases. Wildlife intrusions pose lower health risk, followed by runoffs and biological soil amendments of animal origin. When preharvest contamination persists and combines with time–temperature abuses at postharvest, the predicted ECO157 illness cases rise considerably. We showed a broad range of interventions targeting both preharvest and postharvest stages can effectively improve the microbial safety of fresh-cut romaine. The comprehensive practices and interventions explored in this study will aid decision-makers in establishing/enhancing food safety best management practices.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01585-zQuantitative microbial risk assessmentEscherichia coli O157:H7LettuceFarm to fork |
| spellingShingle | Ece Bulut Sarah I. Murphy Laura K. Strawn Michelle D. Danyluk Martin Wiedmann Renata Ivanek Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain Scientific Reports Quantitative microbial risk assessment Escherichia coli O157:H7 Lettuce Farm to fork |
| title | Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| title_full | Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| title_fullStr | Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| title_short | Risk assessment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 along the farm-to-fork fresh-cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| title_sort | risk assessment of escherichia coli o157 h7 along the farm to fork fresh cut romaine lettuce supply chain |
| topic | Quantitative microbial risk assessment Escherichia coli O157:H7 Lettuce Farm to fork |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01585-z |
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