Aggregative Swab Sampling Method for Romaine Lettuce Show Similar Quality and Safety Indicators and Microbial Profiles Compared to Composite Produce Leaf Samples in a Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Composite produce leaf samples from commercial production rarely test positive for pathogens, potentially due to low pathogen prevalence or the relatively small number of plants sampled. Aggregative sampling may offer a more representative alternative. This pilot study investigated whether aggregative swab samples performed similarly to produce leaf samples in their ability to recover quality indicators (APCs and coliforms), detect Escherichia coli, and recover representative microbial profiles. Aggregative swabs of the outer leaves of romaine plants (n = 12) and composite samples consisting of various grabs of produce leaves (n = 14) were collected from 60 by 28 ft sections of a one-acre commercial romaine lettuce field. Aerobic plate counts were 9.17 ± 0.43 and 9.21

SUBMITTER: Gathman RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11476302 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature