Risks of foodborne pathogens associated with animal contamination of raw-agricultural commodities: A review

Abstract

Pathogens that cause foodborne illness can contaminate raw-agricultural produce via animal intrusion and defecation in production fields. The Food and Drug Administration's Produce Safety Rule and related guidance cite published research on animal intrusion risk and risk-reduction practices. However, additional relevant research has been published since their release. Research on animal contamination often focuses on a single risk factor. This review summarizes current research on multiple risk factors and provides a basis for understanding how these factors may interact to influence risk to produce from animal contamination, providing regulators and educators with science-based information to inform education and outreach to growers. This review may also aid researchers by identifying future research needs. We conclude that when managing risks from animal contamination, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. This approach considers a range of factors, including animal type, nature of feces, rain and irrigation events, meteorology, and worker training. We also created an online tool that conveys the findings of this review in a succinct and digestible format for growers and regulatory and educational partners.