Summary of Awards to Date

Evaluation of sampling protocol to provide science-based metrics for use in identification of Salmonella in irrigation water testing programs in mixed produce farms in the Suwannee River watershed.

Date

Jan. 1, 2012 - Dec. 31, 2013

Award Number

2012-186

Amount Awarded

$254,888.00

Investigator

/George Vellidis, Ph.D.
University of Georgia

Co-Investigator(s)

Karen Levy, Ph.D.

Resources
Summary

Irrigation water has been linked to outbreaks of human foodborne illness and death associated with bacterial contamination of produce. In 2010, the FDAset forth a rule to allow for inspections of produce production systems, minimal standards to be derived for on-farm processes and resources such as quality of irrigation water. The rule also mandated documentation of actions conducted to minimize the risks of produce contamination. Requirements to document the quality of water are based on indicator bacteria and currently vary from no mandate for testing irrigation water quality to a presence/absence test to a single enumerated test to a 5-day geometric mean. There are no science-based metrics comparing the utility of these methods for detecting pathogenic bacteria in irrigation water sources. The proposed research will provide guidance for growers on water sampling methods to maximize the ability to detect bacterial contamination in surface water irrigation sources. In addition, the water sampling protocol developed in this study will provide a science-based method for collecting samples that can be documented as part of a water quality program to minimize risks of produce contamination.

Technical Abstract

Irrigation water is one of the foremost risks associated with food safety of fresh produce. Foodborne outbreaks of human disease and deaths have been linked to contamination of irrigation water with pathogenic bacteria (CDC, 2008; Greene et al., 2008). Currently, FDA is developing a rule that will establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables and will address soil amendments, worker health and hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, water, and other issues (FDA, 2011). Although irrigation water is a recognized risk factor for bacterial pathogen contamination of produce, associated risks have not been systematically evaluated. Science-based data are needed to establish and validate Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) metrics to prevent contamination of produce via irrigation water. In order to evaluate, modify, and implement GAPs, studies must establish appropriate assessment protocols for risk evaluation that are specific to each type of irrigation water system (surface, well, wastewater, etc.) used in a variety of produce production regions across the United States.

Sampling protocols used in documenting quality of irrigation waters vary greatly in number of samples collected, timing and frequency of samples collected, sampling location, holding times prior to analysis, assay organism, and other factors.  Bacteria populations are not uniformly distributed throughout surface water bodies, and concentrations fluctuate based on a variety of factors including temperature, solar radiation, and precipitation. Research-based comparisons of sampling protocol parameters are vital to growers to provide a method that most accurately measures pathogenic bacteria in irrigation water and provides information that is necessary to detect and mitigate contamination of irrigation water prior to transfer to crops. The proposed research will systematically evaluate methodologies associated with these parameters to identify and validate sampling procedures which increase the likelihood of detection of pathogenic and indicator bacteria contamination of surface irrigation waters. The safety of irrigation water used in production of fresh vegetables and fruit crops cannot be adequately assessed without a uniform system of sample collection and laboratory analysis based on sound science. Documented irrigation water quality plans will be an essential part of on-farm food safety programs. The following objectives will be addressed in this study:

  1. Examine the effect of holding time following water sample collection on the survival rates of Salmonella and indicator bacteria.
  2. Compare the utility of a composite sample collected from multiple locations in surface water to a single grab sample for maximizing probability of detection of Salmonella and indicator bacteria.
  3. Compare concentrations and 5 day geometric means of Salmonella and indicator bacteria collected near vegetated buffer/pond and field/pond interfaces following precipitation events.