Abstract
It has been nearly 2decades since the outbreak of hepatitis A associated with contaminated green onions that sickened over 600 individuals across multiple states in 2003 (CDC, 2003). The origin of contamination in this historically important outbreak was uncertain. Five years before that, in 1998, scientists stated that green onions implicated in another outbreak could have originated from one of two Mexican farms or a California farm, and speculated that a better understanding of how HAV might contaminate raw produce is needed. In these outbreaks as in several that are mentioned in this chapter, epidemiological data were critical to piecing the puzzle pieces together. This remains true today as clusters of viral illness may be difficult to detect and detection of viruses in irrigation water and on produce is challenging. Fruits and vegetables remain an essential part of a healthy lifestyle; therefore, continued focus on causes of produce contamination events, issues of globalization, virus interaction with produce, and risk assessment continue to be critical to food safety.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.