Chapter 10 - Produce contamination issues in Mexico and Central America

Abstract

Several large foodborne outbreaks in the United States of America have been linked to fresh produce imported from Mexico and Central America. Although contributing factors have not been determined in all cases, cross-contamination with the fecal matter of both domestic and wild animals has been suggested. In addition, contact with contaminated water, the use of untreated manure or sewage as fertilizer, lack of field sanitary toilet facilities, poorly or unsanitized vehicles, and contamination by handlers are also suggested as potential contributing factors. To reduce these sources of contamination, the producers in Mexico and Central America regions have been implementing measures to control the possible contaminant causes. In this context, this chapter describes the main sources of contamination and the main approaches to assure the safety of fresh produce in Mexico and Central America.